#Instagram APIGet Visibility you Always Wanted

If this is for you?

Instagram API Platform is useful to

1. Individuals to share their content2. For Brands and Advertisers3. Broadcasters and Publishers

Make sure all requests to the API must be made over SSL(https:// and not http://)

Instagram API require you to authenticate user first before making any calls to API Endpoints.

You can make use of either Server-side flow(more secure) or implicit flow(less secure) for redirecting users.

Secure or not?

Server-Side(Explicit) Flow

Steps for Server-Side(Explicit) Flow1. Direct user to Instagram Authorization URL2. Receive the redirection URL from Instagram3. Request the access_token

In the last step you would exchange code for an access token.

Client-Side(Implicit) Authentication

This method would be used in cases where you don’t have server side component.

Steps for Client-Side Authentication1. Direct user to Instagram Authorization URL2. Get access_token from the URL fragment

Scopes(Permissions)

Instagram supports following scopes1. basic - get user’s profile and media2. public_content - get user’s public profile and media3. follower_list - get list of followers and followed-by users4. comments - post and delete comments5. relationships - follow and unfollow accounts6. likes - like and unlike media

Note: Do not ask user to grant more permissions than you want in your Web or App solution.

Permissions Review & Why it’s Important?

You start with Sandbox mode and it provides you access to all API endpoints but for a limited number of users and media.

Instagram would review your app and grant full access to Instagram content only after approving your app.

Must Know Facts about App Approval

Criteria for Review

Instagram will not approve your app in following cases1. If you are using a widget

2. If you are to use only for one time

3. Just to showcase content on personal Website

API Endpoint Groups

1. UsersSelf, about other users, most recent content of the current or any user, liked by user and search for user by name

2. Relationshipsfollowing, followers, requests for follow, relationship with other user and modify relationship with other user

API Endpoint Groups

3. Mediaget media info by media-id, shortcode or search for media

4. Commentsget list of recent comments, add comment, remove comment

API Endpoint Groups

5. LikesGet a list of users who liked, set or remove like for media for current user6. TagsGet info about tag object, list of recently tagged media, search for tag by name7. LocationsGet info about location, get a list of media objects for a location and search for a location by coordinates

Rate Limits

Instagram considers rate limits for each access token and 1 hour window.

For Sandbox current limit is 500 calls per hour while for Live App it is 5000 per hour.

User Subscriptions

You can create, delete and list subscriptions using subscriptions endpoint.

With User subscriptions you will get notified when users who are authenticated by your app posts new media on instagram.

Embedding

Embedding can save lot of your time and efforts for creating custom UI when you can just add by writing few lines of code.

Instagram provides embed code for the post of your choice to embed in your website or using wordpress.

Instagram provides two ways to programmatically add Instagram post to your webpage : oEmbed endpoint or URL append endpoint.

Note: Instagram uses its own embeds.js library for embedding.

Mobile Sharing

For both iPhone and Android Instagram provides easy to implement method for Sharing.

For iOS use custom URL schemes for sharing and for Android use Intents to post photos and videos.

Code Library

Instagram currently provides Python and Ruby libraries for rest like PHP, Java and Swift one is always free to contribute.

Visit Letsnurture for more