This guide walks you through connecting REST APIs to Airtable, using a football data API as a practical example. You'll learn the exact steps to import external data into your base and set up automatic syncing.
What is an Airtable REST API Integration?
REST APIs allow different applications to communicate and share data using standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE. When you integrate a REST API with Airtable, you're connecting your base to external data sources for automatic imports and updates.
For example, you interact with REST APIs every day when Instagram loads new posts or when weather apps fetch current conditions. With Airtable API integrations, you can bring that same external data directly into your bases. This tutorial shows you how to:
- Connect any REST API to your Airtable base
- Import external data using HTTP GET requests
- Map API response fields to Airtable columns
- Schedule automatic data updates
Installing the Data Fetcher Extension
Before you can connect REST APIs to Airtable, you'll need to install Data Fetcher from the Airtable extension marketplace.
1. Install Data Fetcher from the Airtable extension marketplace.
2. Create your free account by entering your email address and password, then click Create your free account.
3. Alternatively, sign up using your Google account.
How to Make REST API Requests in Airtable
To connect a REST API to Airtable, you'll combine a base URL with specific endpoints. Think of endpoints as different doors to access different types of data from the same service.
For this example, we'll use the football-data API to import English football competitions. The process works identically for any REST API you want to integrate with Airtable.
Step 1: Create Your API Request
1. Open Data Fetcher in your Airtable base, then click Create your first request.
2. Select Custom under Application.
3. Rename the request to "Import football competitions".
Step 2: Configure the API Endpoint
4. Copy and paste this competitions endpoint URL into the URL input:
http://api.football-data.org/v4/competitionsStep 3: Add Parameters to Filter Your Data
Parameters let you control exactly what data the API returns. Without parameters, you'd get all competitions worldwide. With parameters, you can filter for specific data.
5. Click Add + under Parameters.
6. Enter "areas" under Parameter and "2072" under Value.
- The "areas" parameter filters competitions by location.
- "2072" is England's unique ID in this API.
- Each API has different parameters - check your API's documentation.
Notice how the URL automatically updates with your parameter. You'll see ?areas=2072 added to the end - this is how REST APIs receive your filters.
7. Click Save and Run in the bottom right corner.
Mapping API Data to Airtable Fields
After clicking Save and Run, Data Fetcher fetches the data and opens the Response Field Mapping screen. This is where you decide which API data goes into which Airtable columns.
Understanding Field Mapping Options
For each piece of data from the API, you can:
- Import or exclude it - Use the checkbox to include or skip each field.
- Create new fields - Let Data Fetcher create new columns in your table.
- Map to existing fields - Match API data to columns you already have.
- Set the field type - Choose whether data should be text, number, date, etc.
Selecting Your Fields
The football API returns 30 fields, but you only need 5. Here's how to select just what you need:
1. Click Deselect All to start fresh.
2. Check the boxes next to these specific fields and configure them:
- Competitions id → New field "Id" (Number type)
- Competitions emblem → New field "Emblem" (Attachment type)
- Competitions name → Map to existing "Name" field
- Competitions type → New field "Type" (Single select type)
- Competitions current season start date → New field "Current season start date" (Date type)
Tip: Can't find a field? Use the Find field search bar or scroll horizontally to see all available fields.
3. Click Save and Run in the bottom right corner.
Your Airtable base now displays the English football competitions data. Check your table to see the imported records with all mapped fields.
Adding Authentication to Your REST API Requests
Many REST APIs require authentication to access data or unlock premium features. Data Fetcher supports both authorization credentials and custom headers for complete API integration with Airtable.
Using API Authorization
Authorization gives you access to protected endpoints and higher rate limits. For example, the football-data API requires authentication to access match data and make more than 10 requests per minute.
To add authorization to your Airtable REST API request:
1. Click the Authorization tab in Data Fetcher.
2. Select your authorization type (Bearer Token, API Key, Basic Auth, etc.).
3. Enter your credentials from the API provider.
Most REST APIs provide API keys or tokens in your account dashboard after signing up for their service.
Adding Custom Headers
Headers send additional information with your API request, such as content type preferences or API version specifications. While authorization handles authentication, headers manage how the API processes your request.
To include headers in your REST API integration:
1. Click the Headers tab.
2. Add header names and values as required by your API documentation.
3. Common headers include:
- Content-Type - Specifies data format (usually "application/json").
- Accept - Tells the API what format you want back.
- API-Version - Requests a specific API version.
Note: Each API has different requirements. Always check your API's documentation for required authorization methods and headers.
Automating Your Airtable REST API Integration
Manual imports work well for one-time data pulls, but most REST API integrations need regular updates. Data Fetcher's scheduling feature automatically runs your API requests at set intervals, keeping your Airtable base synchronized with external data.
This feature requires a paid Data Fetcher plan. Here's how to set up automatic REST API syncing:
Upgrade Your Account
1. Open your request in Data Fetcher and scroll to the Schedule tab.
2. Click Upgrade to view available plans.
3. Select the plan that matches your update frequency needs and complete payment.
Configure Automatic Scheduling
4. Click + Authorize to grant Data Fetcher permission to update your base.
5. In the authorization window, click + Add resources to give Data Fetcher access to your bases.
6. Click Grant Access.
7. Toggle on Schedule this request and choose your update frequency:
- Minutes (every 15, 30, or 45 minutes)
- Hours (every 1, 2, 6, or 12 hours)
- Days (daily at a specific time)
- Months (monthly on a specific date)
8. Click Save to activate automatic updates.
Your Airtable REST API integration now runs automatically. Data Fetcher will fetch fresh data from your API and update your base according to your schedule.
Alternative Ways to Connect APIs to Airtable
No-Code Integrations
Data Fetcher offers pre-built Airtable integrations for popular services like Google Sheets, Facebook Ads, and Stripe. No API knowledge needed—just authenticate and import.
Using cURL Commands
Have a cURL command from API documentation? Our guide on running cURL commands in Airtable shows how to paste it directly into Data Fetcher. All headers, parameters, and authentication import automatically.
You now have everything needed to connect any REST API to Airtable. Start with a simple GET request, test the import, then add scheduling for automatic updates.
