HubSpot Tether is a library designed to simplify interaction with the HubSpot API. To begin, you’ll need to install the Tether package using your preferred package manager. For npm:
npm install @hubspot/tetherFor yarn:
yarn add @hubspot/tetherOnce installed, you’ll need to import the necessary modules into your application. This will vary depending on your chosen framework (React, Node.js, etc.), but generally involves a statement like:
const { Tether } = require('@hubspot/tether');Connecting to HubSpot requires your HubSpot API key and account details. While Tether itself doesn’t directly manage API keys for security reasons, it relies on you providing a valid accessToken (discussed in the next section). This accessToken is obtained through a separate HubSpot OAuth 2.0 flow; instructions for obtaining this token can be found in the HubSpot developer documentation ([link to HubSpot OAuth 2.0 documentation]).
HubSpot Tether leverages OAuth 2.0 for authentication. Before using any Tether methods, you must obtain a valid access token. This token proves your application’s identity and authorization to access HubSpot data.
You should never hardcode your access token directly into your application’s code. Instead, employ secure methods like environment variables to store and manage your tokens. Then, initialize Tether with your access token:
const tether = new Tether({
accessToken: process.env.HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN,
});This example demonstrates retrieving a single contact from HubSpot using the getContactById method. Replace YOUR_CONTACT_ID with an actual contact ID from your HubSpot account. Error handling is crucial in real-world applications; this example provides basic error handling, but you should add more robust mechanisms.
const tether = new Tether({ accessToken: process.env.HUBSPOT_ACCESS_TOKEN });
tether.contacts.getContactById('YOUR_CONTACT_ID')
.then(contact => {
console.log('Contact:', contact);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error('Error fetching contact:', error);
});Remember to consult the full Tether API documentation for details on available methods and parameters. The documentation includes examples and detailed descriptions of each API call and its expected response.
HubSpot Tether is built as a client library, acting as an intermediary between your application and the HubSpot API. It abstracts away many of the complexities of making HTTP requests, handling responses, and managing authentication, allowing developers to focus on integrating HubSpot data into their applications. Tether utilizes Promises for asynchronous operations, making it easy to handle API calls in a clean and efficient manner. The library is modular, allowing you to import only the specific HubSpot objects and methods you need, optimizing your application’s size and performance.
Tether handles data consistently using JavaScript objects and arrays. Data fetched from the HubSpot API is mapped into these structures, providing a predictable and easily consumable format for your application. For instance, a contact retrieved using tether.contacts.getContactById will be returned as a JavaScript object with properties corresponding to the contact’s fields (e.g., firstName, lastName, email). The specific structure of these objects mirrors the structure of the data within HubSpot. Refer to the HubSpot API documentation for detailed information about the properties available for each object type.
Tether offers methods for interacting with various HubSpot objects (contacts, companies, deals, etc.). Each object type typically provides methods for creating, reading, updating, and deleting records. For example, the contacts module provides methods such as createContact, getContactById, updateContact, and deleteContact. These methods accept parameters corresponding to the properties of the object you’re working with. Pay close attention to the data types expected for each property (string, number, boolean, array, etc.) as specified in the API documentation to avoid errors. Property names are consistent with those used in the HubSpot platform.
Tether maintains a single connection to the HubSpot API per instance. The connection is established during initialization using the provided accessToken. This connection is persistent throughout the life of the Tether object unless explicitly closed. There’s no explicit session management beyond the lifespan of the provided accessToken. If your accessToken expires or is revoked, you’ll need to obtain a new one and re-initialize Tether. Efficient error handling (as discussed below) is crucial for gracefully handling authentication failures and refreshing your access token as needed.
Tether uses JavaScript Promises, which allows you to use .then() for successful responses and .catch() to handle errors. Errors are generally returned as JavaScript objects containing details about the failure, including an HTTP status code and a potentially more descriptive error message from the HubSpot API. Inspecting these error objects is vital for debugging. Consider logging errors to a central location (e.g., a dedicated logging service or a file) for monitoring and troubleshooting purposes. Additionally, examining the HTTP status codes returned by the HubSpot API will assist in pinpointing the source of the errors (e.g., 400 Bad Request, 401 Unauthorized, 404 Not Found, etc.). Consult the HubSpot API documentation for explanations of various HTTP status codes and their implications.
The Contacts API allows you to manage contacts within HubSpot. Tether provides methods for:
tether.contacts.createContact(contactData) – Creates a new contact with the provided data.tether.contacts.getContactById(contactId), tether.contacts.getContacts(query) – Retrieves a single contact by ID or a list of contacts based on a query.tether.contacts.updateContact(contactId, contactData) – Updates an existing contact’s information.tether.contacts.deleteContact(contactId) – Deletes a contact.Refer to the full API documentation for complete details on available parameters and returned data structures.
The Companies API lets you manage companies in your HubSpot account. Similar to the Contacts API, it offers methods for:
tether.companies.createCompany(companyData)tether.companies.getCompanyById(companyId), tether.companies.getCompanies(query)tether.companies.updateCompany(companyId, companyData)tether.companies.deleteCompany(companyId)Consult the API documentation for detailed information on available parameters and return values.
The Deals API allows interaction with deals in your HubSpot account, providing methods for:
tether.deals.createDeal(dealData)tether.deals.getDealById(dealId), tether.deals.getDeals(query)tether.deals.updateDeal(dealId, dealData)tether.deals.deleteDeal(dealId)See the API documentation for the full range of parameters and the structure of the returned data.
The Tickets API provides methods for managing support tickets within HubSpot:
tether.tickets.createTicket(ticketData)tether.tickets.getTicketById(ticketId), tether.tickets.getTickets(query)tether.tickets.updateTicket(ticketId, ticketData)tether.tickets.deleteTicket(ticketId)The API documentation provides detailed information on available fields and parameters.
The Tasks API allows for the creation, retrieval, and management of tasks:
tether.tasks.createTask(taskData)tether.tasks.getTaskById(taskId), tether.tasks.getTasks(query)tether.tasks.updateTask(taskId, taskData)tether.tasks.deleteTask(taskId)Detailed information on parameters and return values can be found in the API documentation.
The Notes API allows for managing notes associated with various HubSpot objects:
tether.notes.createNote(noteData) - Requires specifying the associated object ID and type.tether.notes.getNoteById(noteId)tether.notes.updateNote(noteId, noteData)tether.notes.deleteNote(noteId)The API documentation outlines the required parameters and data structures.
The Custom Objects API provides access to custom objects you’ve defined within HubSpot. The methods will vary based on your custom object’s schema, but generally include create, read, update, and delete functionality. Refer to the API documentation for details specific to your custom objects.
The Events API allows access to track and manage events in HubSpot. This may include creating custom events or accessing data on existing events, the specifics depend on your HubSpot configuration and the type of events tracked. Consult the API documentation for further details.
The Files API allows for managing files associated with your HubSpot account. This API allows uploading, downloading, and deleting files, and potentially retrieving information about stored files. Specific functions may depend on your HubSpot account’s settings and capabilities. See the API documentation for specific functions and details.
The Workflows API allows interaction with HubSpot workflows, though the extent of this interaction may be limited depending on the level of access provided by your HubSpot account and any relevant API limitations. Refer to the HubSpot API documentation for information on the functionalities available via the workflows API. Note that workflow management might require more specialized credentials or configurations beyond a standard API key.
For efficiency, HubSpot Tether doesn’t inherently support direct batch operations in all cases. However, many HubSpot APIs allow for efficient retrieval of multiple records simultaneously. For bulk uploads or updates, consider using the HubSpot API’s built-in batch capabilities directly, outside the Tether abstraction layer. The specifics will depend on the API endpoints you are using. Consult the official HubSpot API documentation for details on batch processing for specific object types (contacts, companies, deals, etc.). While Tether simplifies individual requests, for large-scale operations, working directly with the batch endpoints may be more performant.
Many HubSpot API endpoints return large datasets. To avoid overwhelming your application with excessive data, utilize pagination. HubSpot APIs typically return a response containing metadata indicating the total number of records and providing a mechanism for requesting subsequent pages of data. Tether doesn’t directly handle pagination; you’ll need to manually manage this by examining the response and making subsequent requests using the provided offset or cursor values. Always examine the response metadata for pagination information, following the API’s guidelines to fetch all required data efficiently.
Tether utilizes Promises extensively for handling asynchronous API calls. This allows for cleaner code and easier management of concurrent requests. All methods return a Promise that resolves with the API response data or rejects with an error. Effectively using .then() and .catch() blocks is crucial for handling both successful and unsuccessful responses. For complex sequences of operations, consider using async/await to enhance code readability and maintainability. Properly handling asynchronous operations is fundamental for building responsive and reliable applications.
For real-time updates, integrating HubSpot webhooks is recommended. Tether itself does not directly manage webhooks; you’ll need to configure webhooks within your HubSpot account. Once configured, your application will receive notifications via HTTP POST requests to a specified URL whenever relevant events occur (e.g., a new contact is created, a deal is updated). Your application will then need to process these webhook events. This requires setting up a server that can receive and process these notifications. Tether can then be used to interact with HubSpot to fetch and update data based on the received events.
Tether is designed to be compatible with other JavaScript libraries. You can integrate it with front-end frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js), back-end frameworks (Node.js, Express.js), and other utility libraries. The interaction typically involves importing Tether into your application and using its methods within your existing codebase. Pay attention to any potential conflicts between Tether’s dependencies and those of your other libraries; manage dependencies carefully using package management tools (npm or yarn).
Tether provides the foundation for building custom integrations and applications that leverage HubSpot data. By combining Tether’s API access with your application’s logic, you can create custom solutions tailored to your specific needs. This may involve building dashboards, integrating with CRM systems, automating tasks, or creating custom reporting tools. Remember to always adhere to HubSpot’s API usage guidelines and rate limits to ensure the stability and reliability of your application and avoid exceeding any usage quotas. Thorough testing and error handling are critical aspects of building robust and reliable custom integrations.
This section lists common errors encountered when using HubSpot Tether and suggests solutions.
Error: 401 Unauthorized: This error typically indicates an invalid or expired access token. Ensure your accessToken is correctly set in the Tether initialization and that it’s still valid. Refer to the HubSpot developer documentation for instructions on refreshing access tokens.
Error: 400 Bad Request: This error usually points to an issue with the data you’re sending to the HubSpot API. Double-check the structure and data types of the parameters you’re passing to Tether methods. Ensure they conform to the specifications outlined in the HubSpot API documentation.
Error: 404 Not Found: This indicates that the requested resource (e.g., a contact, company, or deal) doesn’t exist. Verify the ID you are using to retrieve the resource is correct.
Error: 500 Internal Server Error: This typically indicates a problem on the HubSpot side. If this error persists, contact HubSpot support.
Network Errors: If you encounter network-related errors (e.g., connection timeouts), verify your internet connection and ensure that your application can reach the HubSpot API endpoints.
Effective debugging practices are crucial when working with APIs. Implement robust logging within your application to track API requests, responses, and potential errors. Log details such as timestamps, request parameters, response status codes, and error messages. Consider using a structured logging library to facilitate analysis and searching of log entries. A debugger within your IDE can assist in stepping through your code, inspecting variable values, and understanding the flow of execution, especially helpful when dealing with asynchronous operations and promises.
HubSpot’s API has rate limits to prevent abuse and ensure fair usage for all developers. If you exceed these limits, your requests will be throttled. To avoid rate limiting:
Engage with the HubSpot developer community for assistance. Search for solutions to common issues in online forums or seek help from other developers facing similar challenges. The HubSpot developer community often provides valuable insights and solutions to problems encountered when working with the HubSpot API.
Consult the official HubSpot API documentation and Tether’s documentation for detailed information, API specifications, and code examples. The official documentation provides comprehensive details on all HubSpot APIs, including usage guidelines, rate limits, and error codes. Tether’s documentation explains the library’s functionalities and how to utilize its features effectively. Regularly check the official documentation for updates and changes to the API.