API Authentication Guide

To get started with the Molex API, obtain Molex API credentials and download Postman. Download Postman (version 10 or later) for free at postman.com and install the desktop app for Windows, Mac or Linux. Postman can be used for testing APIs and managing authentication; it organizes requests and displays responses.

The Molex API uses OAuth 2.0 to issue client credentials. Rather than relying on a single long-term API key, Client ID and Client Secret are exchanged for a short-term access token that is included with every request.

This is a step-by-step guide to installing Postman.

Before getting started, it is important to understand the definition of a collection. It is a simple folder for organizing related requests within Postman. Once OAuth is configured, all requests in that collection inherit the same settings.

• Go to https://www.postman.com/downloads
• Download and run the installer for the appropriate operating system (Windows, macOS or Linux).
• Create a free Postman account or proceed without signing in. The software will function properly in either case.

• In the left sidebar, click Collections.
• Click the + icon near the top of the sidebar and select Collection.
• Name it Molex API V2. The collections panel will appear in the sidebar.
• A Molex API V2 folder will appear in the Collections panel. This should be left empty. Individual requests will be added later.

Environments are used to store your credentials and URLs as named variables, allowing you to switch between the QA and production environment without editing each one individually.

• In the left sidebar, click Environments.
• Click the + icon and select Environment.
• Name the environment QA.
• Add each variable in the table below by typing the name in the variable column and the value in the Value column.
• Save by clicking the button in the top right-corner of the environment editor.
• When you are ready to create a production environment, return to step one and repeat the process.

Once the collection is open, you are ready to set up authentication. Requests added to the Molex API V2 collection will automatically inherit the collection’s token, eliminating the need to configure auth for each request.

• Click the collection name to open the setting panel.
• Select the Authorization tab.
• From the Auth Type dropdown, select OAuth 2.0.

• From the Add auth data to menu, select Request Headers.
• Confirm that the header prefix is set to Bearer.

• Scroll down to Configure New Token, then add the information from the fields below.

• Scroll down and select Get new access token.
• Postman will send your credentials to {{tokenUrl}} and wait for a response.
• If the request is successful, a pop-up window will appear showing the token value and expiration time.
• To activate the token, click Proceed, then Use Token.

• Auto-refresh allows Postman to automatically renew expired tokens, helping prevent errors caused by inactive tokens.
• On the Authorization tab, scroll down to Auto-refresh Token and switch the toggle to the on position.
• Click Save.

With the collection configured, you can begin adding requests. Each request requires a base URL. Depending on the endpoint, it may also require query parameters, a request body, or both.

• In the top-right corner of Postman, click the Environment dropdown.
• Select QA or Production based on your credential configuration.

• In the left sidebar, click the three-dot menu next to the Molex API V2 collection, then select Add Request.
• Enter a description name for the request.
• Click Save.

An API request URL is formed by combining the base URL with the endpoint path.Using {{baseUrl}} ensures Postman pulls the correct base URL from the selected environment.

• At the top of the request editor, type the full URL into the Request URL bar.
• Using the dropdown to the left of the URL bar, set the HTTP method to GET.

Query parameters filter or refine the data returned by an endpoint. Add them through the Params tab rather than appending them manually to the URL. Postman handles the encoding and formatting automatically.

• Click the Params tab.
• In the Key column, enter the parameter name.
• In the Value column, enter the corresponding value.

• On the individual request, click the Authorization tab.
• In the Auth Type drop down, confirm the type is set to Inherit Auth from Parent.

This setting should remain static, as it ensures that the bearer token is attached automatically and eliminates the need for manual entry.

• In the individual request, click the Headers tab.
• Confirm the applicationName is present.
• If it is missing, add a header with the key applicationName and the value set to the application name.

• Click the Send button.

Postman will attach an authorization header with the value bearer <token> and automatically send the request to the API. The response will appear in the lower-left panel.

Use the table below to troubleshoot the most common issues. Most problems result from one of the following issues:

• Selecting the wrong environment.
• Mistyping an environment variable.
• A request failing to inherit authentication from the collection.

The values in the table below are for use in the configure new token section of the collection Authorization tab.

When building requests in Postman, use the patterns in the table below.