How do I Integrate REST Data Sources into APEX Components

 Introduction

In Oracle APEX, integrating REST Data Sources into components such as reports, forms, and charts enables developers to seamlessly pull in external data from web services and APIs. This feature is especially powerful for building applications that rely on real-time or external systems, without needing to store all the data locally. With REST-enabled SQL and APEX’s declarative tools, incorporating REST data into your components is both flexible and efficient.

In Oracle APEX, integrating REST Data Sources into APEX components allows your applications to fetch and display external data without requiring the data to be stored in your local Oracle database. This is especially useful when working with third-party services, microservices, or remote Oracle REST-enabled SQL services.

To begin, navigate to Shared Components > REST Data Sources. Here you can define a new REST Data Source by clicking Create. Choose between a Web Source (for generic REST APIs) or REST Enabled SQL (for Oracle REST Data Services). Enter the endpoint URL, authentication method (such as OAuth2, basic auth, or no authentication), and any required headers or parameters. You can preview the data to ensure the connection is successful.

Once the REST Data Source is created, it becomes available for use in your APEX application just like a local table or view. You can now go to Create Page > Report and select REST Data Source as the data source. APEX will prompt you to select from available REST definitions and map JSON or XML fields to report columns. You can also use REST Data Sources in Forms, Charts, or Interactive Grids, and even combine them with local data using REST-enabled SQL when needed.

APEX also provides flexibility to work with REST data in PL/SQL using APEX_WEB_SERVICE API, allowing developers to manipulate or process data before rendering it on a page. Additionally, you can apply pagination, filtering, and transformations directly within the REST Source definition or on the component consuming it.

Using declarative settings and low-code configuration, Oracle APEX makes it easy to integrate RESTful services directly into your applications, empowering developers to build rich, dynamic interfaces that consume data from any web-accessible source.

Once a REST Data Source is established, it can be utilized in various APEX components:

• Reports: Both Classic and Interactive Reports can display data from REST Data Sources.

• Charts: JET Charts can visualize data retrieved from RESTful services.

• Calendars: CSS Calendars can present date-related information from external sources.

To integrate a REST Data Source into a component:

1. Create or Edit the Component:

• In the App Builder, create a new component (e.g., report, chart) or edit an existing one.

2. Select the Data Source:

• In the component's settings, choose REST Data Source as the data source type.

• Select the previously created REST Data Source.

3. Configure Component Attributes:

• Define attributes such as columns to display, filters, and sorting options based on the data provided by the REST service.

Conclusion
By integrating REST Data Sources into APEX components, you expand your application’s capabilities to consume and present data from any accessible REST API. This approach empowers your apps to become more dynamic and connected, all while taking advantage of APEX’s low-code environment. Whether displaying live data in reports or creating interactive forms that fetch and send data via REST, Oracle APEX provides the tools to build modern, data-rich applications with ease.