Complete API Integration Guide 2025
Master proxy API integration with this comprehensive guide for 2025. Learn to seamlessly integrate proxy services into your applications, automation tools, and scraping operations using REST APIs, SDKs, and custom implementations. From basic authentication to advanced load balancing, this guide covers everything you need to know about proxy API integration.
Get Proxy API AccessWhat You’ll Learn in This Guide
API Fundamentals
- REST API Basics: Understanding proxy API endpoints and methods
- Authentication Methods: API keys, OAuth, and secure authentication
- Rate Limiting: Managing API request limits and quotas
- Error Handling: Robust error management and retry logic
Integration Techniques
- SDK Integration: Using official SDKs and libraries
- Custom Implementations: Building your own API clients
- Webhook Integration: Real-time proxy status updates
- Batch Operations: Handling multiple proxy requests efficiently
Advanced Features
- Load Balancing: Distributing requests across proxy pools
- Monitoring & Analytics: Tracking API usage and performance
- Security Best Practices: Protecting API credentials and data
- Scalability: Building for high-volume proxy operations
Understanding Proxy APIs
What is a Proxy API?
A proxy API provides programmatic access to proxy services, allowing developers to integrate proxy functionality directly into their applications. Instead of manually configuring proxies, you can use API calls to dynamically route traffic through proxy servers, rotate IPs, and manage proxy pools.
Benefits of API Integration
Automation Advantages
- Dynamic Proxy Selection: Programmatically choose optimal proxies
- Real-time Rotation: Automatic IP switching based on conditions
- Load Distribution: Intelligent traffic distribution across proxies
- Performance Monitoring: Track proxy health and effectiveness
Scalability Benefits
- Elastic Scaling: Adjust proxy capacity based on demand
- Multi-Application Support: Use same proxy infrastructure across apps
- Centralized Management: Manage all proxies from single dashboard
- Cost Optimization: Pay only for proxies you actually use
Popular Proxy API Providers
Webshare API
Webshare offers a comprehensive proxy API with residential and datacenter proxies:
import requests
class WebshareAPI:
def __init__(self, api_key):
self.api_key = api_key
self.base_url = 'https://proxy.webshare.io/api/v2'
self.session = requests.Session()
self.session.headers.update({
'Authorization': f'Token {api_key}',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
})
def get_proxy_list(self, page=1, page_size=100):
"""Get list of available proxies"""
url = f'{self.base_url}/proxy/list/'
params = {
'page': page,
'page_size': page_size
}
response = self.session.get(url, params=params)
return response.json()
def create_proxy_config(self, proxy_data):
"""Create custom proxy configuration"""
url = f'{self.base_url}/proxy/config/'
response = self.session.post(url, json=proxy_data)
return response.json()
def get_proxy_stats(self):
"""Get proxy usage statistics"""
url = f'{self.base_url}/stats/'
response = self.session.get(url)
return response.json()
Bright Data (Oxylabs) API
Bright Data provides enterprise-grade proxy APIs:
class BrightDataAPI:
def __init__(self, username, password, zone):
self.username = username
self.password = password
self.zone = zone
self.base_url = f'http://{username}:{password}@brd.superproxy.io:22225'
def get_rotating_proxy(self):
"""Get rotating residential proxy"""
proxy_url = f'http://{self.username}:{password}@brd.superproxy.io:22225'
return proxy_url
def get_country_specific_proxy(self, country_code):
"""Get proxy from specific country"""
proxy_url = f'http://{self.username}-country-{country_code}:{self.password}@brd.superproxy.io:22225'
return proxy_url
def get_city_specific_proxy(self, city_name):
"""Get proxy from specific city"""
proxy_url = f'http://{self.username}-city-{city_name}:{self.password}@brd.superproxy.io:22225'
return proxy_url
Smartproxy API
Smartproxy offers user-friendly API integration:
class SmartproxyAPI:
def __init__(self, username, password):
self.username = username
self.password = password
def get_residential_proxy(self, country=None, city=None):
"""Get residential proxy with optional geo-targeting"""
host = 'gate.smartproxy.com'
port = '7000'
if country:
port = f'7{country}00' # Country-specific port
proxy_url = f'http://{self.username}:{self.password}@{host}:{port}'
return proxy_url
def get_endpoint_list(self):
"""Get list of available endpoints"""
# Smartproxy provides fixed endpoints
endpoints = {
'residential': 'gate.smartproxy.com:7000',
'datacenter': 'gate.smartproxy.com:10000',
'mixed': 'gate.smartproxy.com:8000'
}
return endpoints
Basic API Integration
Authentication Setup
API Key Authentication
import requests
import hashlib
import hmac
import time
class APIAuthenticator:
def __init__(self, api_key, secret_key=None):
self.api_key = api_key
self.secret_key = secret_key
def get_basic_auth_headers(self):
"""Basic API key authentication"""
return {
'Authorization': f'Bearer {self.api_key}',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
def get_hmac_signature(self, method, endpoint, payload=''):
"""HMAC signature for secure authentication"""
timestamp = str(int(time.time()))
message = f'{method}{endpoint}{payload}{timestamp}'
signature = hmac.new(
self.secret_key.encode(),
message.encode(),
hashlib.sha256
).hexdigest()
return {
'Authorization': f'Bearer {self.api_key}',
'X-Timestamp': timestamp,
'X-Signature': signature,
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
def authenticate_request(self, session, method='GET', endpoint='', payload=''):
"""Add authentication to request session"""
if self.secret_key:
headers = self.get_hmac_signature(method, endpoint, payload)
else:
headers = self.get_basic_auth_headers()
session.headers.update(headers)
return session
Making API Requests
Basic Request Handler
import requests
import json
import time
from urllib.parse import urlencode
class APIRequestHandler:
def __init__(self, base_url, authenticator):
self.base_url = base_url.rstrip('/')
self.authenticator = authenticator
self.session = requests.Session()
self.rate_limiter = RateLimiter()
def make_request(self, method, endpoint, params=None, data=None, **kwargs):
"""Make authenticated API request with rate limiting"""
# Check rate limits
self.rate_limiter.wait_if_needed()
url = f'{self.base_url}/{endpoint.lstrip("/")}'
# Add query parameters
if params:
url += '?' + urlencode(params)
# Prepare payload
payload = json.dumps(data) if data else ''
# Authenticate request
self.authenticator.authenticate_request(
self.session, method, endpoint, payload
)
try:
if method.upper() == 'GET':
response = self.session.get(url, **kwargs)
elif method.upper() == 'POST':
response = self.session.post(url, data=payload, **kwargs)
elif method.upper() == 'PUT':
response = self.session.put(url, data=payload, **kwargs)
elif method.upper() == 'DELETE':
response = self.session.delete(url, **kwargs)
else:
raise ValueError(f"Unsupported HTTP method: {method}")
# Update rate limiter
self.rate_limiter.update_limits(response.headers)
return self._handle_response(response)
except requests.RequestException as e:
print(f"API request failed: {e}")
raise
def _handle_response(self, response):
"""Handle API response"""
if response.status_code >= 400:
error_data = response.json() if response.content else {}
raise APIError(response.status_code, error_data)
try:
return response.json()
except json.JSONDecodeError:
return response.text
Rate Limiter Implementation
class RateLimiter:
def __init__(self, requests_per_minute=60):
self.requests_per_minute = requests_per_minute
self.requests_made = []
self.retry_after = 0
def wait_if_needed(self):
"""Wait if rate limit would be exceeded"""
current_time = time.time()
# Remove old requests outside the time window
self.requests_made = [
req_time for req_time in self.requests_made
if current_time - req_time < 60
]
if len(self.requests_made) >= self.requests_per_minute:
# Wait until we can make another request
oldest_request = min(self.requests_made)
wait_time = 60 - (current_time - oldest_request)
if wait_time > 0:
time.sleep(wait_time)
# Check server-imposed rate limits
if self.retry_after > 0:
time.sleep(self.retry_after)
self.retry_after = 0
def update_limits(self, headers):
"""Update rate limits from response headers"""
if 'X-RateLimit-Remaining' in headers:
remaining = int(headers['X-RateLimit-Remaining'])
if remaining <= 0:
self.retry_after = int(headers.get('Retry-After', 60))
if 'Retry-After' in headers:
self.retry_after = int(headers['Retry-After'])
# Record this request
self.requests_made.append(time.time())
Advanced Integration Patterns
Proxy Pool Management via API
Dynamic Proxy Pool
import threading
import time
from collections import deque
class DynamicProxyPool:
def __init__(self, api_client, pool_size=50, refresh_interval=300):
self.api_client = api_client
self.pool_size = pool_size
self.refresh_interval = refresh_interval
self.proxy_pool = deque()
self.last_refresh = 0
# Start background refresh thread
self.refresh_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._refresh_loop)
self.refresh_thread.daemon = True
self.refresh_thread.start()
def _refresh_loop(self):
"""Background proxy pool refresh"""
while True:
try:
self._refresh_proxy_pool()
except Exception as e:
print(f"Proxy pool refresh failed: {e}")
time.sleep(self.refresh_interval)
def _refresh_proxy_pool(self):
"""Refresh proxy pool from API"""
# Get fresh proxies from API
new_proxies = self.api_client.get_fresh_proxies(self.pool_size)
# Update pool
self.proxy_pool.clear()
self.proxy_pool.extend(new_proxies)
self.last_refresh = time.time()
print(f"Refreshed proxy pool with {len(new_proxies)} proxies")
def get_proxy(self):
"""Get next proxy from pool"""
if not self.proxy_pool:
# Pool is empty, refresh immediately
self._refresh_proxy_pool()
if self.proxy_pool:
proxy = self.proxy_pool.popleft()
return proxy
else:
raise Exception("No proxies available")
def return_proxy(self, proxy, success=True):
"""Return proxy to pool (or discard if failed)"""
if success and len(self.proxy_pool) < self.pool_size:
self.proxy_pool.append(proxy)
# Failed proxies are discarded and will be replaced on next refresh
Load Balancing Integration
API-Based Load Balancer
class APILoadBalancer:
def __init__(self, api_clients):
self.api_clients = api_clients # List of API client instances
self.client_stats = {i: {'requests': 0, 'errors': 0} for i in range(len(api_clients))}
self.current_client = 0
def select_client(self, strategy='round_robin'):
"""Select API client based on strategy"""
if strategy == 'round_robin':
return self._round_robin_select()
elif strategy == 'least_loaded':
return self._least_loaded_select()
elif strategy == 'random':
return self._random_select()
else:
return random.choice(self.api_clients)
def _round_robin_select(self):
"""Round-robin client selection"""
client = self.api_clients[self.current_client]
self.current_client = (self.current_client + 1) % len(self.api_clients)
return client
def _least_loaded_select(self):
"""Select client with least requests"""
client_index = min(self.client_stats.items(), key=lambda x: x[1]['requests'])[0]
return self.api_clients[client_index]
def _random_select(self):
"""Random client selection"""
return random.choice(self.api_clients)
def make_balanced_request(self, method, endpoint, **kwargs):
"""Make request with load balancing"""
max_retries = 3
for attempt in range(max_retries):
client = self.select_client()
client_index = self.api_clients.index(client)
try:
response = client.make_request(method, endpoint, **kwargs)
self.client_stats[client_index]['requests'] += 1
return response
except APIError as e:
self.client_stats[client_index]['errors'] += 1
if attempt == max_retries - 1:
raise e
# Try different client on next attempt
continue
Integration with Popular Frameworks
Web Scraping Integration
Scrapy API Middleware
import json
import requests
from scrapy.exceptions import NotConfigured
class ProxyAPIMiddleware:
def __init__(self, api_endpoint, api_key):
self.api_endpoint = api_endpoint
self.api_key = api_key
self.session = requests.Session()
self.session.headers.update({
'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}',
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
})
@classmethod
def from_crawler(cls, crawler):
api_endpoint = crawler.settings.get('PROXY_API_ENDPOINT')
api_key = crawler.settings.get('PROXY_API_KEY')
if not api_endpoint or not api_key:
raise NotConfigured('ProxyAPI middleware requires PROXY_API_ENDPOINT and PROXY_API_KEY')
return cls(api_endpoint, api_key)
def process_request(self, request, spider):
"""Get proxy from API and assign to request"""
try:
# Request proxy from API
proxy_data = {
'domain': request.url.split('/')[2], # Extract domain
'spider': spider.name
}
response = self.session.post(f'{self.api_endpoint}/get_proxy', json=proxy_data)
proxy_info = response.json()
if proxy_info.get('success'):
proxy_url = proxy_info['proxy']
request.meta['proxy'] = proxy_url
# Store proxy ID for later release
request.meta['proxy_id'] = proxy_info.get('proxy_id')
except Exception as e:
spider.logger.warning(f"Failed to get proxy from API: {e}")
def process_response(self, request, response, spider):
"""Handle proxy response and release proxy if needed"""
proxy_id = request.meta.get('proxy_id')
if proxy_id:
try:
# Report proxy status back to API
status_data = {
'proxy_id': proxy_id,
'status_code': response.status,
'success': response.status == 200
}
self.session.post(f'{self.api_endpoint}/report_proxy', json=status_data)
except Exception as e:
spider.logger.warning(f"Failed to report proxy status: {e}")
return response
Selenium API Integration
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options
import requests
class SeleniumProxyAPI:
def __init__(self, api_endpoint, api_key):
self.api_endpoint = api_endpoint
self.api_key = api_key
self.session = requests.Session()
self.session.headers.update({
'Authorization': f'Bearer {api_key}'
})
def create_driver_with_api_proxy(self, proxy_config=None):
"""Create Selenium driver with API-managed proxy"""
# Request proxy configuration from API
config = proxy_config or {}
response = self.session.post(f'{self.api_endpoint}/get_selenium_proxy', json=config)
if response.status_code != 200:
raise Exception(f"Failed to get proxy from API: {response.text}")
proxy_data = response.json()
# Configure Chrome options
options = Options()
if proxy_data.get('proxy_type') == 'http':
proxy_url = proxy_data['proxy_url']
options.add_argument(f'--proxy-server={proxy_url}')
# Add additional Chrome options for stealth
options.add_argument('--disable-blink-features=AutomationControlled')
options.add_experimental_option("excludeSwitches", ["enable-automation"])
# Create driver
driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
# Store proxy session info
driver.proxy_session_id = proxy_data.get('session_id')
return driver
def release_proxy_session(self, driver):
"""Release proxy session back to API"""
if hasattr(driver, 'proxy_session_id'):
try:
self.session.post(f'{self.api_endpoint}/release_session', json={
'session_id': driver.proxy_session_id
})
except Exception as e:
print(f"Failed to release proxy session: {e}")
Application Integration
Python Requests Integration
import requests
from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
from urllib3.util.retry import Retry
class ProxyAPIAdapter(HTTPAdapter):
def __init__(self, api_client, **kwargs):
self.api_client = api_client
super().__init__(**kwargs)
def init_poolmanager(self, *args, **kwargs):
# Get proxy from API for this connection pool
proxy_url = self.api_client.get_proxy_for_domain()
if proxy_url:
kwargs['proxy_url'] = proxy_url
return super().init_poolmanager(*args, **kwargs)
# Usage
api_client = ProxyAPIClient(api_key='your_key')
adapter = ProxyAPIAdapter(api_client)
session = requests.Session()
session.mount('http://', adapter)
session.mount('https://', adapter)
# All requests now use API-managed proxies
response = session.get('https://example.com')
Node.js Integration
const axios = require('axios');
const HttpsProxyAgent = require('https-proxy-agent');
class ProxyAPIClient {
constructor(apiEndpoint, apiKey) {
this.apiEndpoint = apiEndpoint;
this.apiKey = apiKey;
this.session = axios.create({
baseURL: apiEndpoint,
headers: {
'Authorization': `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}
});
}
async getProxy(options = {}) {
try {
const response = await this.session.post('/get_proxy', options);
return response.data;
} catch (error) {
throw new Error(`Failed to get proxy: ${error.message}`);
}
}
async createProxiedAxiosInstance(options = {}) {
const proxyData = await this.getProxy(options);
const proxyAgent = new HttpsProxyAgent(proxyData.proxy_url);
return axios.create({
httpsAgent: proxyAgent,
httpAgent: proxyAgent,
headers: {
'User-Agent': proxyData.user_agent || 'ProxyAPI/1.0'
}
});
}
}
// Usage
const proxyClient = new ProxyAPIClient('https://api.proxyprovider.com', 'your_api_key');
async function makeRequest() {
const proxiedAxios = await proxyClient.createProxiedAxiosInstance({
country: 'US',
session_type: 'rotating'
});
const response = await proxiedAxios.get('https://target-website.com/api/data');
return response.data;
}
Monitoring and Analytics
API Usage Tracking
Usage Analytics Class
import time
import json
from collections import defaultdict
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
class APIUsageTracker:
def __init__(self, log_file='api_usage.log'):
self.log_file = log_file
self.usage_stats = defaultdict(lambda: {
'requests': 0,
'errors': 0,
'response_times': [],
'endpoints': defaultdict(int),
'daily_usage': defaultdict(int)
})
def log_request(self, endpoint, method, response_time=None, success=True, error_type=None):
"""Log API request"""
today = datetime.now().date().isoformat()
self.usage_stats['global']['requests'] += 1
self.usage_stats['global']['daily_usage'][today] += 1
if not success:
self.usage_stats['global']['errors'] += 1
if response_time:
self.usage_stats['global']['response_times'].append(response_time)
# Endpoint-specific stats
self.usage_stats['endpoints'][endpoint] += 1
# Keep only last 1000 response times
if len(self.usage_stats['global']['response_times']) > 1000:
self.usage_stats['global']['response_times'].pop(0)
# Write to log file
self._write_log_entry(endpoint, method, response_time, success, error_type)
def _write_log_entry(self, endpoint, method, response_time, success, error_type):
"""Write log entry to file"""
entry = {
'timestamp': datetime.now().isoformat(),
'endpoint': endpoint,
'method': method,
'response_time': response_time,
'success': success,
'error_type': error_type
}
try:
with open(self.log_file, 'a') as f:
json.dump(entry, f)
f.write('\n')
except Exception as e:
print(f"Failed to write log entry: {e}")
def get_usage_report(self, days=7):
"""Generate usage report"""
report = {
'total_requests': self.usage_stats['global']['requests'],
'total_errors': self.usage_stats['global']['errors'],
'success_rate': 0,
'avg_response_time': 0,
'daily_breakdown': {},
'top_endpoints': {}
}
# Calculate success rate
if report['total_requests'] > 0:
report['success_rate'] = (report['total_requests'] - report['total_errors']) / report['total_requests']
# Calculate average response time
response_times = self.usage_stats['global']['response_times']
if response_times:
report['avg_response_time'] = sum(response_times) / len(response_times)
# Daily breakdown
cutoff_date = (datetime.now() - timedelta(days=days)).date()
for date_str, count in self.usage_stats['global']['daily_usage'].items():
date = datetime.fromisoformat(date_str).date()
if date >= cutoff_date:
report['daily_breakdown'][date_str] = count
# Top endpoints
sorted_endpoints = sorted(
self.usage_stats['endpoints'].items(),
key=lambda x: x[1],
reverse=True
)
report['top_endpoints'] = dict(sorted_endpoints[:10])
return report
def print_report(self, days=7):
"""Print formatted usage report"""
report = self.get_usage_report(days)
print("API Usage Report")
print("=" * 50)
print(f"Total Requests: {report['total_requests']}")
print(f"Total Errors: {report['total_errors']}")
print(f"Success Rate: {report['success_rate']:.2%}")
print(f"Average Response Time: {report['avg_response_time']:.2f}s")
print("\nDaily Breakdown:")
for date, count in sorted(report['daily_breakdown'].items()):
print(f" {date}: {count} requests")
print("\nTop Endpoints:")
for endpoint, count in report['top_endpoints'].items():
print(f" {endpoint}: {count} requests")
Real-time Monitoring
API Health Monitor
import threading
import time
import smtplib
from email.mime.text import MIMEText
class APIHealthMonitor:
def __init__(self, api_client, check_interval=60, alert_email=None):
self.api_client = api_client
self.check_interval = check_interval
self.alert_email = alert_email
self.is_healthy = True
self.last_check = None
self.consecutive_failures = 0
# Start monitoring thread
self.monitor_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._monitor_loop)
self.monitor_thread.daemon = True
self.monitor_thread.start()
def _monitor_loop(self):
"""Main monitoring loop"""
while True:
self._perform_health_check()
time.sleep(self.check_interval)
def _perform_health_check(self):
"""Perform API health check"""
try:
# Simple health check - try to get proxy list
start_time = time.time()
response = self.api_client.make_request('GET', '/health')
response_time = time.time() - start_time
if response.get('status') == 'healthy':
self._handle_healthy_check(response_time)
else:
self._handle_unhealthy_check("Unhealthy status")
except Exception as e:
self._handle_unhealthy_check(str(e))
self.last_check = time.time()
def _handle_healthy_check(self, response_time):
"""Handle successful health check"""
if not self.is_healthy:
print("API is back to healthy state")
self._send_alert("API Recovered", f"API is now healthy. Response time: {response_time:.2f}s")
self.is_healthy = True
self.consecutive_failures = 0
def _handle_unhealthy_check(self, error):
"""Handle failed health check"""
self.consecutive_failures += 1
if self.is_healthy:
print(f"API health check failed: {error}")
if self.consecutive_failures >= 3: # Alert after 3 consecutive failures
self.is_healthy = False
self._send_alert("API Down", f"API is unhealthy: {error}")
def _send_alert(self, subject, message):
"""Send alert email"""
if not self.alert_email:
return
try:
msg = MIMEText(message)
msg['Subject'] = f"API Alert: {subject}"
msg['From'] = self.alert_email
msg['To'] = self.alert_email
server = smtplib.SMTP('localhost')
server.sendmail(self.alert_email, self.alert_email, msg.as_string())
server.quit()
except Exception as e:
print(f"Failed to send alert email: {e}")
def get_health_status(self):
"""Get current health status"""
return {
'healthy': self.is_healthy,
'last_check': self.last_check,
'consecutive_failures': self.consecutive_failures
}
Security Best Practices
API Key Management
Secure Key Storage
import os
import json
from cryptography.fernet import Fernet
class SecureAPIKeyManager:
def __init__(self, key_file='api_keys.enc', master_key=None):
self.key_file = key_file
self.master_key = master_key or self._generate_master_key()
self.cipher = Fernet(self.master_key)
def _generate_master_key(self):
"""Generate or load master encryption key"""
key_file = self.key_file + '.key'
if os.path.exists(key_file):
with open(key_file, 'rb') as f:
return f.read()
else:
key = Fernet.generate_key()
with open(key_file, 'wb') as f:
f.write(key)
return key
def store_api_key(self, service_name, api_key, additional_data=None):
"""Store encrypted API key"""
data = {
'api_key': api_key,
'additional_data': additional_data or {},
'created': time.time()
}
encrypted_data = self.cipher.encrypt(json.dumps(data).encode())
# Load existing keys
all_keys = self._load_all_keys()
# Update with new key
all_keys[service_name] = encrypted_data
# Save all keys
with open(self.key_file, 'wb') as f:
json.dump(all_keys, f)
def get_api_key(self, service_name):
"""Retrieve decrypted API key"""
all_keys = self._load_all_keys()
if service_name not in all_keys:
raise KeyError(f"No API key found for service: {service_name}")
encrypted_data = all_keys[service_name]
decrypted_data = self.cipher.decrypt(encrypted_data)
data = json.loads(decrypted_data.decode())
return data['api_key'], data.get('additional_data', {})
def _load_all_keys(self):
"""Load all encrypted keys"""
if not os.path.exists(self.key_file):
return {}
with open(self.key_file, 'r') as f:
return json.load(f)
def list_services(self):
"""List all stored services"""
return list(self._load_all_keys().keys())
Request Encryption
Encrypted API Communication
import base64
from cryptography.hazmat.primitives import hashes
from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric import rsa, padding
class EncryptedAPIClient:
def __init__(self, api_client, public_key=None):
self.api_client = api_client
self.public_key = public_key # Server's public key for encryption
def make_encrypted_request(self, method, endpoint, data=None):
"""Make request with encrypted payload"""
if not self.public_key:
# Fallback to regular request
return self.api_client.make_request(method, endpoint, data=data)
# Encrypt sensitive data
if data:
encrypted_data = self._encrypt_data(data)
payload = {'encrypted_data': encrypted_data}
else:
payload = None
# Make request
response = self.api_client.make_request(method, endpoint, data=payload)
# Decrypt response if needed
if 'encrypted_data' in response:
response = self._decrypt_data(response['encrypted_data'])
return response
def _encrypt_data(self, data):
"""Encrypt data using server's public key"""
data_str = json.dumps(data)
encrypted = self.public_key.encrypt(
data_str.encode(),
padding.OAEP(
mgf=padding.MGF1(algorithm=hashes.SHA256()),
algorithm=hashes.SHA256(),
label=None
)
)
return base64.b64encode(encrypted).decode()
def _decrypt_data(self, encrypted_data):
"""Decrypt response data (if private key is available)"""
# This would require client's private key for response decryption
# Implementation depends on specific encryption scheme
pass
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
Q: What do I need to start using proxy APIs? A: You’ll need an API key from a proxy provider, basic programming knowledge (Python recommended), and understanding of HTTP requests. Most providers offer comprehensive documentation and SDKs.
Q: Which proxy API provider should I choose? A: Choose based on your needs: Webshare for residential proxies, Bright Data for enterprise solutions, Smartproxy for ease of use. Consider factors like proxy quality, pricing, and API features.
Q: Do I need to be a programmer to use proxy APIs? A: While programming knowledge helps for custom integrations, many providers offer no-code solutions, pre-built integrations, and extensive documentation for beginners.
Technical Questions
Q: How do I handle API rate limits? A: Implement rate limiting in your code, monitor response headers for limit information, use exponential backoff for retries, and consider upgrading your API plan for higher limits.
Q: What should I do if the API is down? A: Implement retry logic with exponential backoff, have fallback proxy sources, monitor API health, and contact your provider’s support if issues persist.
Q: How do I secure my API keys? A: Store keys in environment variables or encrypted files, never hardcode them in source code, rotate keys regularly, and use IP whitelisting when available.
Integration Challenges
Q: My API requests are being blocked. What should I do? A: Check your authentication, verify API endpoints, ensure proper headers, implement user agent rotation, and contact the provider if the issue persists.
Q: How do I optimize API performance? A: Use connection pooling, implement caching, batch requests when possible, choose optimal data formats, and monitor response times to identify bottlenecks.
Q: Can I use multiple proxy APIs simultaneously? A: Yes, you can implement load balancing across multiple providers, use different APIs for different purposes, and have failover systems in place.
Advanced Usage
Q: How do I implement custom proxy selection logic? A: Create scoring algorithms based on response time, success rate, geographic location, and cost. Use machine learning to optimize proxy selection over time.
Q: What are webhooks and how do I use them? A: Webhooks are HTTP callbacks that notify your application of events. Use them for real-time proxy status updates, usage alerts, and automated proxy pool management.
Q: How do I scale API usage for large applications? A: Implement horizontal scaling with multiple API clients, use message queues for request distribution, implement caching layers, and consider API gateway solutions.
Start API Integration TodayConclusion
Proxy API integration opens up powerful possibilities for automated proxy management, real-time rotation, and scalable web operations. By following best practices for authentication, error handling, and monitoring, you can build robust systems that leverage proxy APIs effectively.
Remember to:
- Choose Reliable Providers: Select APIs with good documentation and support
- Implement Proper Security: Protect API keys and monitor usage
- Handle Errors Gracefully: Build resilient systems with retry logic
- Monitor Performance: Track usage and optimize for efficiency
- Scale Gradually: Start small and expand as your needs grow
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