Widgets and API Keys

Question 1

What is a social media platform feed?

Answer 1

Gathers and publishes social media content.
Items typically consist of a headline link and summary of the content.
Used to link to social media pages or related content.
Often uses an RSS widget.

Question 2

How can social media feeds be achieved?

Answer 2

Through browser plug-ins (readers) or Application Program Interfaces (API’s).

Question 3

What is an API key?

Answer 3

Used to protect and track API-based news feeds.
Unique identifier and secret token for authentication.
Secret token submitted alongside web service requests to identify the origin of the request.
Acts as a form of authentication, which can lead to access control.
Uses a hash function to validate origin and prevent tampering.

Question 4

What is the process of API key?

Answer 4

• Take the text of your request and your secret key and apply the HMAC function.
• Add authentication header to your request and send it to Amazon.
• Service provider looks up their copy of the secret key, and the text you just sent and applies the HMAC function.
• If the result matches, they know that you have the same secret key.