What is the BigCommerce API | Epic Design Labs

If you’ve been working in ecommerce, especially with BigCommerce, you’ve probably heard the term “API” thrown around. But what exactly is the BigCommerce API, and why should store owners or developers care about it? In this video, I break down the BigCommerce API in simple terms, explaining what it is, how it works, and how it can help you streamline your store operations.

Whether you’re a store owner or a developer looking to expand your ecommerce functionality, understanding APIs is essential for automating processes, connecting apps, or gathering data. In this video, I explain how you can leverage BigCommerce’s API to improve your store’s capabilities.

Watch the Video: What is the BigCommerce API?
In this video, I explain the BigCommerce API, why it’s important, and how it works.

Key Takeaways from the Video
Here are five important points covered in the video, along with their timestamps so you can quickly find the information that matters most:

What is an API?
(00:02) – The BigCommerce API is an agreement between two databases that determines how data is exchanged between them. It allows developers to send and receive specific information, such as product IDs, prices, and names.
How Developers Use APIs
(01:06) – Developers don’t technically “write” APIs but write scripts that connect to an API. For instance, a script could send a query to BigCommerce’s API to retrieve product IDs from a store.
API Calls and Endpoints
(02:49) – An API uses predefined “endpoints” for communication. When an app or external system interacts with BigCommerce, it does so by following these agreed-upon protocols.
BigCommerce API Rate Limits
(03:32) – BigCommerce has rate limits for how many API calls can be made per hour, depending on your plan. These limits are crucial for ensuring performance and preventing server overload.
Why the API is Useful for Store Owners
(08:04) – The API enables you to automate tasks, retrieve data, and push new data into BigCommerce. While there are limits at lower plan levels, the API is fast and flexible, especially at higher tiers.

Why You Should Watch the Video
If you’re running an ecommerce store on BigCommerce, understanding how to use the API is a game-changer. You’ll learn how to integrate your systems, connect apps, and manage your store more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks. This video is packed with practical insights that will help you make the most of the BigCommerce platform.

Watch the full video and start leveraging the power of BigCommerce’s API today.

Join the Conversation
Have questions about APIs or need help with your store’s development? Join our Ecommerce Growth community here or reach out to us at Epic Design Labs. We’re always here to help!

Full Transcript

(00:02)
So, what is the BigCommerce API? You keep hearing this word “API” like it’s some magical thing, but what is it? In this video, I’m going to explain what it is.
Before we get started, my name is Kal. I’m a developer, a store owner, and I run the Ecommerce Growth private community for store owners just like you and me. It’s a free community, and I’ll have a link below. Every week, I post more ecommerce videos, so if you find this one interesting, subscribe and hit the bell, and you can hear more from me in the future.
(00:28)
Alright, so what is this API thing we keep hearing about, right? It’s like magic—just “API it,” right? But what is it?
API Defined
API stands for Application Programming Interface. Essentially, it’s an agreement between two databases about what they will allow in or out of their database.
For example, as a developer, I can write a program (which is often referred to as writing an API, though technically, that’s not correct). What you’re actually doing is writing a script that connects to an API.
So, I can write a script that sends a query, or question, to BigCommerce’s API. The question might be, “What are the product IDs of all the products in this store?”
BigCommerce’s API documentation says that if you want this type of information, you need to ask in a specific way. I format my question accordingly, and BigCommerce responds with the product IDs.
(01:45)
Once I have those product IDs, I can ask for more information, like the name or price of a product.
So, in essence, an API is an agreed-upon set of “endpoints” that outline how to communicate with a database and what type of data will be returned.
(02:16)
The API documentation specifies what data can be communicated in and out of the database. Then, I write my script that interacts with the API, whether it’s fetching information, pushing new information, or both. The API acts as the bridge that allows these transactions.

Usage Example: Apps
An app is an external script or database that connects to yours through the API.
Anything outside of BigCommerce needs to communicate via the API.
API Limits
Most systems with APIs have limits on how many requests can be sent in a given time frame. This prevents servers from being overwhelmed by excessive requests. BigCommerce has its own limits on API calls, which differ depending on your plan.

(03:32) BigCommerce API Rate Limits:
Trial/Standard/Plus Plans:
20,000 API calls per hour, or about 5.5 requests per second.
Pro Plans:
60,000 API calls per hour, or about 16 requests per second.
Enterprise Plans:
Unlimited API calls per second, though in practice, if you send too many requests (like a million), they will likely throttle the response speed to avoid overloading the server.
For comparison, Shopify’s Plus plan allows just 4 requests per second, so BigCommerce offers more flexibility with API requests.

(06:46) Per-App Basis:
Each app making API requests is siloed, so one app’s request won’t interfere with another’s ability to use the API.
Hopefully, this clarifies a bit about what the BigCommerce API is. It’s an agreed-upon set of endpoints that allow communication between systems.

(07:31) Resources:
You can learn more by visiting BigCommerce’s developer portal:
BigCommerce Developer Documentation
It includes all the API docs and webhooks, which are related but slightly different.

(08:04) Conclusion:
BigCommerce’s API is incredibly fast, though there are limits at the lower levels.
If you found this video helpful, give it a like and join our community at join ecommerce growth.com. If you’re looking for a developer to help with your API calls, reach out to us at Epic Design Labs, and we’ll see if we’re a good fit. Leave me a comment, let me know what you’re struggling with, and maybe I can help in a future video.
Thank you so much for joining me, and I’ll see you next time.