REST connector

The REST connector allows you to make a request to a REST API and use the response in the next steps of your process.

Create a REST connector task

To use a REST connector in your process, either change the type of existing task using the wrench-shaped Change type context menu, or create a new connector task by using the Append connector context menu. Follow our guide on using connectors to learn more.

Make your REST connector executable

To make the REST connector executable, fill out the mandatory fields highlighted in red in the properties panel:

note

All the mandatory and non-mandatory fields will be covered in the upcoming sections. Depending on the authentication selection you make, more fields might be required. We will also cover this in the next section.

Authentication

You can choose among the available REST connectors according to your authentication requirements.

REST Connector (No Auth)

No extra authentication configuration is required; you can jump to the next section.

REST Connector (Basic Auth)

Create a new connector Secret

We advise you to keep your Password safe and avoid exposing it in the BPMN xml file by creating a Secret:

1. Follow our guide for creating Secrets.
2. Name your Secret (i.e REST_BASIC_AUTH_SECRET) so you can reference it later in the connector.

Configure Basic Authentication

Select the REST Connector and fill out the following properties under the Authentication section:

1. Set Username (i.e. YOUR_USERNAME).
2. Set Password to the secret you created (i.e. secrets.REST_BASIC_AUTH_SECRET).

REST Connector (Bearer Token Auth)

Create a new connector Secret

We advise you to keep your Bearer Token safe and avoid exposing it in the BPMN xml file by creating a Secret:

1. Follow our guide for creating Secrets.
2. Name your Secret (i.e REST_BEARER_TOKEN) so you can reference it later in the connector.

Configure the Bearer Token

Select the REST Connector and fill out the following properties under the Authentication section:

1. Set Bearer to the secret you created (i.e. secrets.REST_BEARER_TOKEN).

Request

Under the HTTP Endpoint section, select the desired Method and fill the URL with your desired REST API.

Query Parameters

The Query Parameters field can be configured using the FEEL Map data type.

= {
    q: "Berlin",
    appid: "secrets.OPEN_WEATHER_MAP_API_KEY",
    units: "metric",
    lang:"en"
}

note

Secrets are not like regular variables and must be wrapped in double quotes (") when used in an expression.

Http Headers

Similarly to the Query Parameters, the Http Headers can be specified using the FEEL Map data type.

= {
    Origin: "https://modeler.cloud.camunda.io/"
}

Request Body

When you are making a PUT, POST, or PATCH request, you might need to provide a body. You can provide a body for your request under the Payload section in the Request Body field.

Be aware that REST connector is supporting only JSON payload.

note

Secrets are currently not supported in the body of a REST connector.

= {
     "temp": 25,
     "pressure": 1013,
     "humidity": 44,
     "temp_min": 16,
     "temp_max": 30
}

Response

The HTTP response will be available in a temporary local response variable. This variable can be mapped to the process by specifying the Result Variable.

The following fields are available in the response variable:

• status: Response status
• body: Response body of your request
• headers: Response headers

Additionally, you can choose to unpack the content of your response into multiple process variables using the Result Expression, which is a FEEL Context Expression.

= {
    actual_temp: response.body.main.temp,
    feel_temp: response.body.main.feels_like,
    weather: response.body.weather[1].main
}

The next steps in your process will have access to the currentWeather variable that will contain the full response and the mapped variables from the result expression: actual_temp, feel_temp, and weather.