Zoom API

Zoom API

By Abhishek Kumar
6 min read
Discover Zoom's developer documentation for APIs, SDKs, authentication methods, and more. Explore how to integrate Zoom into your applications effectively

Table of Contents

Looking for seamlessly integrating video conferencing and streaming into your application? 

Then, discover the Zoom API and everything you need to know in-depth about the API in this comprehensive guide. From detailed Zoom documentation on authentication, key endpoints, handling of data, SDKs, and alternatives, this article covers all advanced integration tips for your next embedded integration. 

Although the Zoom API was made available for use some time ago, the app creation workflow and current design became available on June 9, 2019. The Zoom API has received regular updates and maintenance ever since, allowing Zoom developers to integrate Zoom's services into their applications for an effective user experience. 

Authentication

The Zoom API uses two methods of token authentication: OAuth2.0 and JWT. 

  • OAuth2.0: This primary method is used by apps that interact with Zoom on behalf of users. If you want to make your app readily available on Zoom Marketplace, OAuth is likely a way to go. 

To do this, you need access to your app, which then retrieves you a temporary access token to make requests to the Zoom API.

  • JWT (Jason Web Tokens): If you are making an application strictly for personal usage, then JWT might be enough. This method is commonly used by backend services and provides server-to-server authentication without user interaction. Tokens are generated by the app's secret keys to interact with Zoom.

Key Endpoints 

There are a variety of endpoints that Zoom API uses for interaction with its various services. These can be categorized in following ways:

  • User management 
  • Webinar Management 
  • Phone
  • Chat
  • Zoom Rooms
  • Cloud Recordings
  • Account Handling 
  • Meeting Management 

In order to integrate and manage Zoom functionalities within your application, these APIs are crucial. You can refer to the official Zoom API documents for further information.

Request and Response Format 

The standard JSON format is used by Zoom API for both requests and responses. A valid authentication token along with a suitable header must be included with every request. If necessary, status codes, data items, and error messages will be included in the response.

Possible Status Codes: 

  • 200 OK: The request was fulfilled.
  • 400 Bad Request: The request lacked necessary parameters or was improperly formatted. 
  • 401 Unauthorized: Either the token was invalid or authentication failed.
  • 429 Too Many Requests: In this case, you have exceeded the limits, reducing the frequency of your requests. 

Error Handling 

In order to create successful integrations with the Zoom API, error control is essential. The error codes and comments that the API gives can be used to quickly identify and resolve problems. 

Best Methods for Handling Errors: 

  • To help with debugging, record error messages and codes.
  • Retries should be used for temporary errors like networking issues.
  • Respond to 429 Too Many Requests by reducing the speed or pausing them.
  • Make sure you carefully check the data you enter to avoid 400 Bad Requests problems. 

Rate Limiting 

Rate limits define the maximum number of requests a single account can make within a given period of time. The Zoom API implements rate limits to ensure fair usage of its resources. Rate limitations change based on the kind of account and endpoint. When you exceed a rate limit, the API request will fail and return an HTTP 429 status code. 

To see your current usage status, use the rate limit headers which are returned in API responses. 

Rate Limits Plan: 

  • Basic: 100 requests per minute, 10,000 requests per day.
  • Pro: 200 requests per minute, 20,000 requests per day.
  • Business: 300 requests per minute, 30,000 requests per day.
  • Enterprise: 400 requests per minute, 40,000 requests per day. 

Pagination (if applicable)

Pagination is the method used by Zoom API to divide responses into digestible chunks when working with huge databases. To scroll through results, most endpoints that return multiple entries contain parameters like page number and page size. 

You can use the next page token to quickly retrieve the items that follow the group of records. In order to maximize the performance, you can change the page size according to your application's requirements. 

Versioning 

You can target particular versions of the Zoom API thanks to its versioning system. This is vital for maintaining integration— assuring that your application stays accurate as Zoom makes updates. 

Regularly check the API changelog for updates that can have an impact on your integration. In addition, you can use specific version-specific URLs that are provided in the documentation. 

Security 

A top consideration when working with any API integration is security. While Zoom provides token-based authentication and HTTPS for secured communication, certain security measures should be taken to avoid illegal access control. 

Some of the safety measures you can take into account are: 

  • Encrypt queries to the API using HTTPS all the time. 
  • Make sure to rotate your credentials and API keys on a regular basis. 
  • Use IP whitelisting to improve security within your integrations. 

Alternatives

While the Zoom API is a top-notch platform for video conferencing and communication integrations into apps, there are several other APIs with similar capabilities, such as:

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Meet
  • Cisco Webex
  • Twilio Video

If you are considering a powerful integration platform that goes beyond traditional video conferencing, Cobalt API is a potent alternative—a unified API that provides integrations across various apps and services. 

Cobalt's one-data model ensures your data uniformity across all integrated platforms. By connecting the API with Zoom's API, you can harmonize your data from several sources, making your experience more seamless and unified. Moreover, it provides custom authentication options—making sure to uphold strict security standards while labeling the user interface. With the help of white-labeled authentication, you can easily establish a secure and seamless experience by connecting it to the Zoom API. 

In fact, real-time synchronization and interaction are possible with the support of Cobalt's bi-directional data flows. When combined with the Zoom API, it allows for more advanced integration scenarios, such as synchronizing meeting data across platforms or automating updates and notifications. 

Technologies 

There are various technologies that Zoom API utilizes to build integrations and enhance workflows and applications with video, audio, and chat functionalities. 

With its RESTful architecture, stateless communication is possibly effective and scalable. You can interact with Zoom's meetings, Webinars, and data using Zoom's API common HTTPS methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. It is ideal for adaptable communication between Zoom services and client apps. 

Languages supported by Zoom API are JavaScript (for front-end and server-side applications), Python (for straightforward API interactions with libraries like requests), and Java (for enterprise-level applications). 

Zoom API integrates with a number of platforms to improve communication and automation, such as Cobalt, Zapier, Make, and Tray.io. 

For highly customized workflows and scalable integrations that meet complex business needs, Cobalt API can integrate Zoom with enterprise systems— facilitating the functions within your application. 

SDKS and Libraries 

Zoom SDKs are used by users to integrate Zoom's chat, audio, and video features into their apps. With the help of these SDKs, the user experience could be customized, letting you create interfaces that are specifically suited for your business needs. Zoom API provides a vast library of SDKs, each tailored to certain use cases: 

  • Meeting SDKs: The primary function of this SDK is to include Zoom's conferencing features like chat, screen-sharing, audio, video, and meeting controls straight into your application. 

The Zoom Meeting SDKs are available for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and Web. 

  • Video SDKs: If you wish to create original video applications free from the Zoom meeting architecture, you can do so by using Zoom Video SDKs. 

The video SDKs provide flexibility to create unique video experiences because they are devoid of meeting IDs or waiting areas like the meeting SDKs do. 

Available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. 

  • Chat SDKs: For integrating chat capabilities into your application, Chat SDKs could suffice—giving you a powerful messaging platform to handle text, files, photos, and other types of documents in your Android, Windows, macOS, and Web applications.

In order to use any of these SDKs, you need to create an account on the Zoom Developer Platform and start customizing the SDKs for your specific purposes. 

Best Practices 

In order to make sure your integration runs effortlessly and efficiently with the Zoom API, consider following these best practices: 

  • Create applications that can gracefully handle rate limitations to avoid service interruption. 
  • To increase your application's robustness, identify frequent problems and set backup steps in place. 
  • Keep your API keys secure and evaluate and update your authentication. 
  • To increase load and speed up response times, use caching and pagination methods as needed. 

Final Thoughts 

With the ability to improve user engagement and add video conferencing, chat, and other features straight into your applications, the Zoom API is indeed a powerful tool. You can create trustworthy and safe integrations that improve the functionality of your app by having a thorough understanding of its endpoints, authentication methods, and error-handling best practices.

On the other hand, Cobalt API is an ideal alternative for more complex integration requirements that call for uniform data management and efficient interaction across many platforms. In addition to making Zoom integration easier, Cobalt connects your data across many apps to assure consistency and improve workflow automation. 

Cobalt's robust security features and bi-directional data flows make it possible to create complex, future-proof connections, which makes it a great option for you if you are looking to move beyond conventional communication platform practices. 

Interested in learning more about Cobalt API integration? Set up a call with one of our experts today!

Last Update: September 02, 2024