How can I connect an external API to Webflow to retrieve data and utilize it in my Webflow project? Is it possible to call APIs through buttons in Webflow? I suspect that implementing custom JavaScript in the header or footer scripts may be necessary, but I'm curious if anyone has experience with this. Thank you!

You can connect an external API to Webflow using custom JavaScript, typically by embedding the script in the Page Settings or using Webflow’s Embed element. This approach allows you to retrieve data dynamically and trigger API calls using elements like buttons.

1. Use Custom JavaScript to Fetch API Data

• Webflow does not natively support external API integrations, so you must use custom JavaScript logic.
• Implement your fetch logic using the native fetch() API or a JS library like Axios.
• Place the JavaScript in the Before tag section of Page Settings or inside an Embed element.

2. Target Buttons to Trigger API Requests

• Use a Webflow Button and give it a unique ID or class (e.g., id="fetchBtn").
• In your JavaScript, use addEventListener to detect the button click and trigger the fetch() call.
• Example logic: on button click, call your external API and update Webflow elements with the returned data.

3. Display Retrieved API Data in Webflow

• Target Webflow elements (like a <div> with id="apiResult") to insert data after the API call returns.
• Use document.getElementById() or querySelector() to dynamically apply returned data to your Webflow content.

4. Handle CORS and Security

• Webflow is client-side only, so CORS errors may occur if the API doesn’t allow requests from public origins.
• If you run into CORS issues:
• Use a proxy server (e.g. with Netlify Functions, Firebase, or a custom backend).
• Ensure the API you’re calling has CORS headers allowing browser access.

5. Alternative: Use Tools Like Zapier or Make

• If you don’t want to write code, use Zapier or Make (Integromat) to fetch or send data between Webflow and external APIs.
• However, this won’t allow real-time or button-triggered interactions on your pages.

Summary

You can absolutely connect a button in Webflow to call an external API, but you’ll need to use custom JavaScript embedded in the page or an Embed component. API responses can be used to update content dynamically, as long as the API supports client-side access (CORS), or you proxy through a backend.