How to Add WooCommerce Authentication to a Custom API Endpoint

Описание: Learn how to secure your custom WooCommerce API endpoint using native WooCommerce authentication, ensuring that only logged-in users can access it.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/71210101/ asked by the user 'amani2k' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/9569788/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/71210396/ provided by the user 'mujuonly' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1117368/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Add WooCommerce Authentication to a Custom API Endpoint

When working with WooCommerce and its REST API, there are cases where you may want to create custom endpoints that meet specific business requirements. One common challenge developers face is adding authentication to these endpoints to ensure only authorized users can access them. If you're looking to secure your custom WooCommerce endpoint with WooCommerce's native authentication (rather than JWT), you've come to the right place.

Understanding the Problem

You may have created a custom API endpoint at a URL that looks something like this:

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However, you want to ensure that this endpoint is protected and only accessible by logged-in users. While many developers turn to JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication for handling such cases, it may not be suitable for your specific needs. That's when native WooCommerce authentication comes in handy.

The Solution: Adding WooCommerce Authentication

To protect your custom WooCommerce API endpoint using the built-in authentication features, you'll need to configure a few components in your WordPress theme or plugin functions file. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what you need to do.

Step 1: Hook Into the REST API

The first step involves using the rest_api_init action hook to register your custom endpoint. You can do this by adding the following code to your theme’s functions.php or a custom plugin file.

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Step 2: Create the Callback Function

Next, you will need to create a callback function that defines what happens when your endpoint is accessed. Here’s a simple example:

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Explanation of the Code

add_action('rest_api_init', 'wc_custom_endpoint'): This line tells WordPress to run the wc_custom_endpoint function when the REST API is initialized.

register_rest_route: This function registers a new REST API route. You specify the namespace (in this case, wc/v3) and the route (custom).

'methods' = 'GET': This specifies that the endpoint will respond to GET requests.

'callback' = 'return_value': This sets the function that will handle the request.

'permission_callback' = function($request): This optional parameter checks if the user is logged in before accessing the endpoint, ensuring that only authenticated users can reach it using the is_user_logged_in() function.

Test Your Custom Endpoint

Now that you have set everything up, it's time to test the new endpoint. Simply navigate to the following URL:

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You should receive the response:

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Keep in mind, if you're not logged in, WordPress should return a permission error.

Conclusion

Securing custom WooCommerce API endpoints is crucial, especially if they contain sensitive data or if you wish to restrict access to certain user roles. By following the steps outlined above, you've successfully implemented native WooCommerce authentication for your custom endpoint. This approach ensures that only logged-in users can access your API, safeguarding your business and its data effectively.

Do you have questions or suggestions regarding the implementation? Feel free to leave a comment below!