Is there a way to connect Webflow to external APIs and build connections to web services using Vue.js and Axios in order to integrate data from different databases?
TL;DR
- Embed Vue.js and Axios via Webflow’s Custom Code, use Axios in the Vue instance to fetch external API data.
- Handle CORS by routing requests through a serverless proxy or host a complete Vue app externally and embed it in Webflow with an iframe.
You can connect Webflow to external APIs and integrate external database data using Vue.js and Axios, but it requires embedding custom code and hosting key logic outside Webflow’s native environment.
1. Understand Webflow’s Limitations
- Webflow is a no-code visual builder and does not natively support backend logic or server-side code.
- You can embed custom HTML, JS, or frameworks (e.g., Vue.js) within Webflow’s Embed elements or in the Site Settings > Custom Code section.
2. Embedding Vue.js in Webflow
- Include the Vue.js CDN in your project by adding a
<script>tag in the Custom Code > Footer section of your site settings. - You can initialize Vue on a specific
<div id="app">that you place in a Webflow page using an Embed component.
3. Using Axios to Call External APIs
- You can use Axios by adding its CDN inside Webflow’s Custom Code, just like Vue. Add it after Vue is loaded.
- Make API requests inside your embedded Vue instance (in the mounted() lifecycle hook or with methods).
- Example use cases: displaying data from a headless CMS, pulling records from Firebase, Google Sheets, or a REST API.
4. Addressing CORS and Hosting Limitations
- Most APIs enforce CORS. Because Webflow is a static host, CORS issues may block requests made directly from the browser.
- Solutions:
- Use a serverless function (Netlify, Vercel, AWS Lambda) as an API middleware to proxy requests.
- Make sure your external API allows requests from your Webflow domain via CORS headers.
5. Alternative: External Vue App Embedded in Webflow
- You can build and host a Vue.js app externally (e.g., on Netlify) and embed it in Webflow using an iframe.
- This approach avoids script compatibility issues within Webflow and gives you full control.
Summary
To connect Webflow to external APIs via Vue.js and Axios, embed your Vue app directly in Webflow or via an iframe, and use Axios for data fetching. Use a proxy or serverless backend to avoid CORS issues and integrate securely with external databases.