How to GET data from an API using POWER QUERY in Power BI | Food Bank & Job Search

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to retrieve data from APIs using Power Query in Power BI. This process is beneficial for accessing various datasets, such as food resources and job listings. We will cover both APIs that do not require a key and those that do, providing practical steps to streamline your data retrieval process.

Step 1: Accessing an API without a Key

1. Identify the API Documentation

   • For this example, we will use the Give Food API. Refer to the documentation here.

2. Open Power BI

   • Launch Power BI and create a new report.

3. Get Data from Web

   • Navigate to the Home ribbon and select "Get Data."
   • Choose "Web" from the options.

4. Enter API URL

   • Paste the endpoint URL from the API documentation into the URL field.
   • Click "OK" to proceed.

5. Load the Data

   • Power BI will connect to the API and show a preview of the data.
   • Click "Transform Data" to open Power Query Editor for any necessary data modifications.
   • Once satisfied, click "Close & Apply" to load the data into your Power BI model.

Step 2: Accessing an API with a Key

1. Obtain API Key

   • For this example, we will use the Reed.co.uk API. Refer to the documentation here to obtain your API key.

2. Open Power BI

   • Launch Power BI if not already open.

3. Get Data from Web

   • Click on "Get Data" in the Home ribbon and select "Web."

4. Construct the API URL

   • Format the URL to include your API key. It typically looks like this:

     https://api.reed.co.uk/jobs?key=YOUR_API_KEY
     

   • Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the actual key you obtained.

5. Enter the URL

   • Paste the constructed URL into the URL input field and click "OK."

6. Load the Data

   • Review the data preview provided by Power BI.
   • If needed, click "Transform Data" to modify the dataset in Power Query Editor.
   • Finally, click "Close & Apply" to load the data into Power BI.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we covered the essential steps to retrieve data from APIs using Power Query in Power BI. We demonstrated how to connect to an API without a key using the Give Food API and how to connect to an API with a key using the Reed.co.uk API. By following these steps, you can easily integrate various data sources into your Power BI reports for enhanced data analysis and visualization. As a next step, consider exploring other APIs relevant to your interests or projects to further expand your data capabilities.