Understanding The Framer API And Its Fetch Feature

Get to grips with the Framer API and harness the fetch feature to your workflow. Explore what you need to know about integrating data effortlessly.

Understanding The Framer API And Its Fetch Feature

We’ve all been there. You’re in the zone, designing your website in Framer, when suddenly, you realize something isn't working right. You have no clue how to fix it. Instead of getting lost in frustration, you should take a step back, and consider using the Framer API to help address your issues. The Framer API, with its powerful Fetch feature, can help you streamline your workflow, and solve your design problems fast. This article will help you start by unpacking the Framer API and its Fetch feature.

NUMI’s Framer web design solution can help you take your understanding of the Framer API to the next level. With a focus on the Fetch feature, Framer design will help you understand how to leverage this tool for your next web project.

What is the Framer API?

man on a laptop - Framer API

The Framer API is a programming interface that allows developers to extend and customize the capabilities of Framer, a popular design and prototyping platform known for creating interactive and high-fidelity prototypes. With the Framer API, developers can integrate custom data, interactivity, and third-party services into their prototypes, turning static designs into dynamic, functional experiences.  

Fetch: A Standout Feature of the Framer API

One of the standout features of the Framer API is Fetch, which allows users to retrieve data from various APIs effortlessly. This functionality enables the integration of dynamic content, such as:

  • User-specific information
  • Live inventory counts
  • Location-based services

Users can set up Fetch to pull data from an API endpoint and display it on their site without writing complex code. This capability is handy for businesses that want to provide real-time updates or personalized customer experiences.  

Custom API Endpoints for Tailored Solutions

The Framer API supports the creation of custom API endpoints. This means businesses can develop tailored solutions that fit their specific needs, such as integrating with internal databases or third-party services. 

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6 Top Use Cases Of The Framer API For Businesses

man with a laptop - Framer API

1. Dynamic Data Integration: Real-Time Data for Engaging Web Experiences

One of the primary use cases for the Framer API is the ability to fetch and display dynamic data from external APIs. This is facilitated through the Fetch feature, which allows businesses to integrate real-time information directly into their Framer projects without extensive coding. For instance, companies can display live statistics, such as:

  • User counts
  • Product availability
  • Real-time updates from social media feeds

This capability is particularly useful for e-commerce sites that need to show current inventory levels or for news websites that require up-to-date content.

2. Personalized User Experiences: Tailored Website Experiences 

By utilizing the Framer API, businesses can create personalized experiences for their users based on data fetched from external sources. For example, a travel website could use location-based APIs to provide visitors with customized content, such as:

  • Local weather updates
  • Nearby attractions based on their geographical location

This level of personalization can enhance user engagement and satisfaction, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates.

3. Custom Integrations with Internal Systems: Smoother Operations

Enterprises often have existing internal systems that manage various aspects of their operations, such as customer relationship management (CRM) or inventory management systems. The Framer API allows businesses to connect these internal systems with their web applications seamlessly. 

For example, a company could create a dashboard that pulls data from its CRM to display real-time customer insights or sales performance metrics. This integration helps streamline workflows and provides employees immediate access to critical information.

4. Automating Workflows: Reduced Errors and Increased Productivity

The Framer API can automate various business workflows. For instance, companies can set up forms in Framer that capture user data and send it directly to external databases or services via API calls. 

This automation reduces manual data entry and minimizes errors, allowing teams to focus on more strategic tasks. Businesses can trigger specific actions based on user interactions, such as sending confirmation emails or updating records in real time.

5. Creating Interactive Dashboards: Visualize Your Business Data

Businesses can leverage the Framer API to build interactive dashboards that visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) and other essential metrics. By fetching data from multiple sources, companies can create comprehensive dashboards that provide insights into various aspects of their operations, such as:

  • Sales performance
  • Website traffic
  • Customer engagement levels

These dashboards enable decision-makers to monitor performance at a glance and make informed decisions based on real-time data.

6. Enhanced Marketing Campaigns: Optimize Content Strategies with Dynamic Data

The Framer API can also enhance marketing campaigns by directly integrating analytics and tracking capabilities into marketing materials. Businesses can use the API to fetch data related to campaign performance, such as click-through rates or conversion metrics, and display this information dynamically within promotional content. This allows marketers to adjust strategies based on real-time feedback and optimize their campaigns for better results.

Elevate Your Startup's Design with NUMI

NUMI is a framer web design agency that world-class framer developers and product designers power. Backed by Y Combinator, NUMI handles all of your startup:

  • Sourcing
  • Vetting
  • Hiring needs

We have a fabuolous design team that ensures that all of your design work is being done well. 

NUMI helps with:

  • Product design
  • Web design
  • Framer development
  • Webflow development
  • Mobile design
  • Prototyping
  • UX design
  • All of your startup's design needs

Subscribe to a guild of world-class designers ready to embed on your team today. Schedule a call with us today to learn more!

Using Fetch To Connect APIs To Framer

man with a laptop - Framer API

Fetch is a new feature Framer introduced, enabling users to retrieve data from various APIs easily. To utilize Fetch, users simply:

  • Select a text layer or component within their Framer project
  • Navigate to the content properties
  • Choose the Add Fetch option
  • From there, they can enter the API URL or select from a list of example endpoints provided by Framer. 

The Fetch UI allows users to specify the exact data they want to display by selecting the appropriate data path from the API response.

Key Features of Fetch

No Coding Required

One of the most significant advantages of using Fetch is that it eliminates the need for coding. Users can integrate dynamic data directly into their designs through a simple interface, making it accessible for non-developers.

Dynamic Data Handling

Fetch supports various data types, including:

This versatility allows users to display a wide range of information, such as:

  • Live inventory counts
  • Weather updates
  • User-specific content

Loading and Error Variants

Framer allows users to define loading and error states for Fetch components. This means that while data is being retrieved, users can display loading animations or messages, improving the overall user experience. If an error occurs during data retrieval, appropriate error messages can be shown to inform users.

Caching Mechanism

Fetch includes built-in caching capabilities that temporarily store previously fetched data. This feature enhances performance by reducing the number of requests made to the API, allowing for faster load times when users revisit the site.

Example Endpoints

Framer provides a selection of example endpoints that users can experiment with to understand how Fetch works. These examples are practical demonstrations of pulling in dynamic data without needing extensive setup.

How to Use Fetch

Leverage the power of APIs to add dynamic data to your Framer Site. Getting started with Fetch is simple. You can add pieces of dynamic data on your Framer site without code. You'll see an Add Fetch option under the “+” icon on the content property of:

  • Text layers
  • Component Properties
  • Most layers inside components

Inside components, you can add Loading and error variants to configure what the component should look like when data is being fetched.

When to Use Fetch

A good rule of thumb for using Fetch is that if information can be typed onto your site manually or into your CMS, you should do that, as Framer better optimizes static information like that for SEO. Fetch is optimized for data that is naturally dynamic or personalized to the site's user. This could be anything from Location and Login state to live inventory count and stock values.

Credentials

The Credentials option can be used to configure when credentials (like cookies) are included in the Fetch request. The same origin is the browser's default behavior, which means that credentials are only included in requests on the same origin.

With the Include credentials option, you can configure the Browser to include credentials, even if the endpoint's URL does not live on the same origin as where the site is served from. This can be used to retrieve data from an authenticated endpoint using cookies stored on the site. It is commonly used for things like displaying a login state.

Note: When Credentials is set to Include test requests, they may not work as expected on the Framer Canvas because the cookies from your live site are not present inside Framer.

Caching

You can configure your Fetches to be cached for a given duration. When a cache is set, the results of a Fetch are cached and saved in the visitor's storage in the browser. If the user revisits the site within the configured cache duration, the stored value is used and no requests are made to the endpoint.

Additionally, when a short cache time is configured, Fetch will automatically reload the data from the endpoint after the cache duration has passed. This can be used to display highly dynamic data that changes often.

Custom APIs Endpoints

Any API endpoints used with Fetch need to be configured to be safely accessed from the public Internet. In many cases, we recommend having a small backend setup dedicated to serving only the required data for your website safely.

Examples of Using Fetch

Using Fetch for Location Data

Another common API use case is fetching the visitor’s approximate city or country. We use the built-in location endpoint and select `city` from the available data, which shows “Amsterdam” as expected. If the API is slow or expensive, you can add a cache to prevent refetching for a set amount of time, such as one hour. This ensures the data is reused, improving performance.

Building a Weather Widget with Fetch

We create a weather widget for a travel website that fetches and displays real-time weather information for different cities. Using the weather endpoint, we set up the fetch to use a variable for the city, allowing the widget to update when the city property changes dynamically. After setting up the fetch for temperature and description, we preview the component, which shows live weather data with a smooth loading experience.

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5 Best Practices For Using The Framer API

woman on a laptop - Framer API

1. Utilize Caching Wisely

Caching is a crucial aspect of using Fetch in Framer, as it helps improve performance by temporarily storing data retrieved from APIs. When setting up Fetch, consider how frequently the data changes and configure the caching options accordingly. 

For example, if you're fetching live stock prices or weather data, you might set a shorter cache duration (e.g., 1 minute) to ensure users see the most current information. Conversely, for less frequently updated data, a longer cache duration can reduce the number of API calls and enhance loading speeds. This balance helps maintain a responsive user experience while optimizing resource usage.

2. Implement Loading and Error Variants

To enhance user experience, always define loading and error variants for components that utilize Fetch. Loading variants allow you to display placeholders or animations while data is retrieved, preventing users from encountering empty states. 

Similarly, error variants provide feedback when an API call fails, allowing you to display informative messages or alternative content. For instance, you could show a friendly message like "Data is currently unavailable" if an error occurs. This approach improves usability and helps maintain engagement by keeping users informed about what’s happening.

3. Choose Appropriate Data Paths

When using Fetch to retrieve data from APIs, it's essential to select the correct data path in the Fetch UI. This ensures you pull in the specific information you need without unnecessary complexity. 

Familiarize yourself with the structure of the API response and use tools like Postman or browser developer tools to inspect the JSON data returned by the API. This practice will help you accurately map the data paths in Framer, leading to smoother integration and fewer errors during implementation.

4. Leverage Built-in Example Endpoints

Framer provides built-in example endpoints that can serve as a great starting point for understanding how Fetch works. These examples demonstrate various use cases, such as fetching location data or displaying view counts. By experimenting with these example endpoints, you can gain practical insights into how to set up Fetch for your specific needs without starting from scratch. This hands-on approach lets you learn quickly and apply similar techniques to your custom API integrations.

5. Integrate Custom API Endpoints Securely

When working with custom API endpoints, it's essential to implement security measures to protect sensitive information such as API keys or user data. Consider using a lightweight backend solution like Cloudflare workers or serverless functions to handle requests securely before passing data to Framer. 

This setup allows you to manage authentication and sanitize responses while ensuring your front-end remains clean and efficient. Doing so allows you to safely integrate complex functionalities into your Framer projects without exposing sensitive details directly in the client-side code.

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Subscribe To A Guild of World Class Framer Developers with Our Framer Web Design Agency Today

NUMI is a framer web design agency that world-class framer developers and product designers power. Backed by Y Combinator, NUMI handles all of your startup:

  • Sourcing
  • Vetting
  • Hiring needs

We have a fabuolous design team that ensures all your design work is done well. 

NUMI helps with:

  • Product design
  • Web design
  • Framer development
  • Webflow development
  • Mobile design
  • Prototyping
  • UX design
  • All of your startup's design needs

Subscribe to a guild of world-class designers ready to embed on your team today. Schedule a call with us today to learn more!

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