How to Use Strapi API
Strapi has rapidly become one of the most popular headless CMS options available to developers building modern, API-driven applications. Its flexibility, scalability, and ease of customization make it an ideal choice for websites, mobile apps, SaaS platforms, ecommerce systems, and enterprise-level applications. At the core of Strapi's power is its API layer---the gateway that allows frontend applications, services, and other platforms to communicate with your backend seamlessly.
Understanding how to effectively use the Strapi API is crucial for building efficient and high-performance applications. This detailed guide explains how Strapi APIs work, how to configure them, how to secure them, and how to consume them in different environments. You will also learn how to extend your API using custom controllers, services, and routes. This article is written in Strapi markdown format and is designed as an in-depth resource for developers, businesses, and organizations who rely on Strapi for digital solutions.
If you need expert help building, integrating, or maintaining Strapi-based applications, you can always AAMAX for MERN Stack Development services. AAMAX is a full‑service digital agency offering Web Development, Digital Marketing, and SEO services designed to help your business thrive.
Understanding How Strapi API Works
Strapi automatically generates RESTful and optional GraphQL APIs based on the content-types you create. Every time you define new fields or modify existing ones, the API updates automatically without needing regeneration.
Key API Concepts
1. REST API
By default, every content-type created inside Strapi generates a full REST API with the following structure:
GET /api/articles
GET /api/articles/:id
POST /api/articles
PUT /api/articles/:id
DELETE /api/articles/:id
This makes Strapi incredibly intuitive for developers familiar with standard REST conventions.
2. GraphQL API
If the GraphQL plugin is installed, you gain access to a powerful GraphQL endpoint:
/graphql
This allows frontend applications to query only the data they need while improving performance.
3. API Customization
Strapi APIs can be extended using:
- Custom controllers
- Custom routes
- Policies
- Lifecycles
- Middlewares
This gives developers total control over backend behavior.
Setting Up Strapi to Use the API
Before using Strapi's API, it's essential to configure your project correctly.
1. Install Strapi
You can create a Strapi project using:
npx create-strapi-app@latest my-project
Or using Yarn:
yarn create strapi-app my-project
2. Start the Server
Navigate to your project folder and run:
npm run develop
Or:
yarn develop
Your Strapi admin panel will be available at:
http://localhost:1337/admin
3. Create a Content-Type
To expose an API, you must create at least one content-type.
Example: Article
Fields: - Title (text) - Description (rich text) - Slug (UID) - Cover Image (media) - Published Date (date)
Once saved, Strapi instantly creates all REST endpoints for this content-type.
How to Access Public Strapi API Endpoints
Setting Public Permissions
Before accessing any public API, you must allow permissions:
- Go to Settings
- Open Roles
- Select Public
- Enable read access for your content-type (e.g., Article → find & findOne)
Fetching Data Using REST API
Request:
GET http://localhost:1337/api/articles
Response Example:
{
"data": [
{
"id": 1,
"attributes": {
"title": "First Article",
"description": "An example article",
"publishedAt": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
}
}
]
}
Fetching a Single Item
GET http://localhost:1337/api/articles/1
Applying Filters
Strapi offers powerful filtering:
GET /api/articles?filters[title][$contains]=strapi
Sorting
GET /api/articles?sort=publishedAt:desc
Pagination
GET /api/articles?pagination[page]=1&pagination[pageSize]=10
Populating Relations
GET /api/articles?populate=coverImage
Using Strapi Authenticated API Endpoints
Most production applications require authenticated access. Strapi supports:
- JWT Authentication
- API Tokens
- Role-Based Access Control
1. Creating an Authentication Token
To log in a user:
POST /api/auth/local
Body:
{
"identifier": "user@example.com",
"password": "password123"
}
Response:
{
"jwt": "your-jwt-token",
"user": {
"id": 1,
"username": "user",
"email": "user@example.com"
}
}
2. Using the JWT Token
Make authenticated requests by adding:
Authorization: Bearer your-jwt-token
Example:
GET /api/articles
Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJI...
3. API Tokens for Integrations
Go to:
Settings → API Tokens → Create Token
Then add the token to your request:
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN
Great for server‑side applications and cron jobs.
Consuming the Strapi API in JavaScript (Frontend Examples)
1. Using Fetch API
const response = await fetch("http://localhost:1337/api/articles?populate=*");
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
2. Using Axios
import axios from "axios";
axios.get("http://localhost:1337/api/articles")
.then(res => console.log(res.data));
3. React Example
useEffect(() => {
fetch("http://localhost:1337/api/articles")
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => setArticles(data.data));
}, []);
4. Next.js Example
export async function getServerSideProps() {
const res = await fetch("http://localhost:1337/api/articles");
const articles = await res.json();
return {
props: { articles }
};
}
5. Vue Example
fetch("http://localhost:1337/api/articles")
.then(res => res.json())
.then(data => {
this.articles = data.data;
});
Using Strapi GraphQL API
If GraphQL plugin is installed, open:
/graphql
Example Query:
query {
articles {
data {
id
attributes {
title
description
}
}
}
}
GraphQL is extremely useful for:
- Optimizing frontend performance
- Reducing over-fetching
- Creating dynamic dashboards
Creating Custom API Endpoints
1. Custom Controller Example
Path:
src/api/article/controllers/custom.js
module.exports = {
async customAction(ctx) {
const entries = await strapi.db.query("api::article.article").findMany({
where: { published: true }
});
ctx.body = entries;
}
};
2. Custom Route Example
Path:
src/api/article/routes/custom.js
module.exports = {
routes: [
{
method: "GET",
path: "/articles/published",
handler: "custom.customAction"
}
]
};
3. Custom Policies
Policies allow advanced access rules (e.g., IP restrictions, session checks).
Example in:
src/policies/check-ip.js
module.exports = (policyContext, config, { strapi }) => {
const allowed = ["127.0.0.1"];
return allowed.includes(policyContext.request.ip);
};
Securing Your Strapi API
Security is crucial in production environment. Here's what you must configure:
1. Disable Unused Permissions
Never leave unnecessary endpoints public.
2. Enable Rate Limiting
Use reverse proxies like Nginx or Cloudflare.
3. Use HTTPS Everywhere
4. Rotate API Tokens Regularly
5. Limit Response Fields Using Query Parameters
6. Validate All Incoming Requests
Testing Strapi API
Always test your API using:
- Postman
- Thunder Client
- cURL
- Insomnia
Example cURL request:
curl http://localhost:1337/api/articles
Use test environments to avoid corrupting production data.
Best Practices for Using Strapi API
1. Structure Your Data Strategically
Planning the data structure saves time during scaling.
2. Use Environment Variables
Avoid hardcoding API keys or URLs.
3. Use Populating Carefully
Overusing populate=* can impact performance.
4. Implement Caching
Use Redis, Cloudflare, or browser caching.
5. Log API Requests
Enable logging for debugging and analytics.
6. Split API for Public and Private Data
Never expose sensitive information.
When to Hire Professionals for Strapi API Integrations
Strapi is powerful, but complex integrations sometimes require expert assistance. You may need professionals if:
- You're handling large datasets
- You need custom API logic
- Performance optimization is required
- You want to integrate with external SaaS systems
- You're building a production‑grade MERN or JAMstack solution
For such needs, you can choose to hire AAMAX for MERN Stack Development, Web Development, Digital Marketing, and SEO solutions.
Conclusion
The Strapi API is one of the most powerful features of the platform, enabling developers to build dynamic applications with ease. Whether you're using REST or GraphQL, authenticating users, creating custom logic, or building integrations, Strapi provides a highly flexible backend system.
By understanding how APIs work, configuring permissions, consuming endpoints with modern frontend frameworks, securing access, and customizing the backend---developers can unlock the full potential of Strapi.
Use this guide as a comprehensive reference whenever building or scaling your application using Strapi. With proper techniques and best practices, your API will remain scalable, secure, and high-performing for years to come.
