API Developers Breakfast Technical overview, use and features available Mike Thacker, Dominic Skinner and Steve Messer Porism Limited 9 July 2015 api.esd.org.uk

@LGInformPlus What is the API? A set of RESTful web methods that feed data to front feed applications. See:

What you get Everything that drives the LGA’s own applications for benchmarking and small area profiling Data (see datasets) maintained by Research and Information teamdatasets Sound statistical analysis (see value types)value types

Applying a consistent framework Metrics 2,917 metric types with values 49 million metric values available (+ 85 million in back end) many data sources consistent time periods consistent breakdowns large to small official statistical areas other areas Audit Commission ChiMat CIPFA Statistical Information Services Clinical and Health Outcomes Knowledge Base Communities and Local Government Community Health Profiles Department for Education Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Transport Department for Work and Pensions Department of Energy and Climate Change Department of Health Department of Transport Health and Social Care Information Centre HM Revenue & Customs Home Office Local Government Association Local Government Ombudsman Ministry of Justice National Adult Social Care Intelligence Service (NASCIS) NeSS data exchange Nomis North West Health Observatory Ofcom Office for National Statistics Ofsted Public Health England South West Health Observatory Sport England Tenant Services Authority The Elections Centre, Plymouth University The Insolvency Service The Planning Inspectorate Valuation Office Agency Youth Justice board Census year Calendar year Month Financial year Calendar quarter Academic year Financial quarter Three-year winters Election year Age band Employment status Ethnicity Fatal or non-fatal Fire cause Gender Location Survey method LSOA MSOA Ward District council County council Single tier council Region Country City districts Community impact areas Community networks Constituencies Draft/new wards Parishes Partnership areas Regen projects Sub-wards Thames corridor Town centres Villages

How metric values are defined Areas Time periods Metrics All types Id1 - Population Population of all counties of England in 2014 All types All counties All types Calendar year 2014

API keys Sign in and request a key Public key is for quick use Public private key is to ‘sign’ live calls OAuth is to recognise individual users (if you need to)

Some simple examples The following JavaScript examples use no server side code whatsoever! Include jQuery Library Call web service with public key using JSONP Parse returned JSON and output data Insert your Public Key

Some simple examples Want to see the API in action? Download the examples and create your own security keys.Downloadcreate your own security keys Replace YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY with the public key you have created. Save and open the HTML file to view.

Public Private Key example This simple PHP function takes a URL (like the one shown earlier) and appends an Application Key. It then generates a signature from the URL and Private Key. Examples can be found on File Exchange. File Exchange

Help with metric types See standards pagesstandards pages

Help with web methods Use the data tool or see ‘Explain’ in web methods tooldata toolweb methods tool See example

Help with anything API-related See API helpAPI help

Further information API: api.esd.org.ukapi.esd.org.uk Help: help.esd.org.uk / MikeSteve Dom