[SOLVED] How do I properly pass an group ID parameter into the GroupMe API

Issue

I am trying to return a specific group by ID in GroupMe using Python. The official documentation states that, to get a specific group, you append the base URL with /groups/:id and add the group ID number as a parameter (along with the access token). From the documentation, it says that the ID needs to be a string.

So, I am aware of the fact that the server is not receiving the correct form, but I don't know how to send the 'correct form,' whatever that may be.

As a note, I am running Python 3.10.

This is the code that I am using:

import requests
import json

parameter = {'id':'12345678'}

url_link = 'https://api.groupme.com/v3/groups/:id?token=token123455'

answer = requests.get(url_link, params=parameter)
print(answer.json())

However, every time I pass the parameter (both as a JSON or a query string), the API always returns with:

{"meta":{"code":400,"errors":["param is not a number"]}}

To further test it, I tried to use cURL:

url -X GET https://api.groupme.com/v3/groups/:id?token=token12345&id=12345678

Got the same error as above. I'm pretty stumped on what to do; any help?

This is my first post here (and my background isn't in computer science or software engineering) so I hope I have provided enough information.

Solution

That syntax :id means a path parameter. You replace it with the actual value of group id.

Also authentication documentation mentions two ways of passing the access token. The one employing headers should be the preferred one. Passing sensitive data in URLs is not a good idea.

Concerning these, retrieval of group information could be done so:

import requests
import json

url = f'https://api.groupme.com/v3/groups/{group_id_value}'

headers = {
    'X-Access-Token': your_token_value,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

print(response.json())

Answered By - Dmitry

Answer Checked By - Senaida (WPSolving Volunteer)