The SDKs and APIs

SDK Uses

The SDK registers channelsAn instance representing an entity addressable via the Airship service, e.g., an iOS device, email address, SMS number or web browser. The channel instance or channel object contains all relevant information about a channel, including metadata used for targeting, opt-in status, device-specific information, and, importantly, a unique identifier for the channel, the channel ID. and interprets notifications sent from Airship. You must integrate the SDK with your app or website in order to issue notifications to your mobile and/or web audiences. Devices that have installed your app and web browsers that have opted-in are eligible to receive notifications. Refer to your app’s platform documentation for help integrating and using the SDK.

API Uses

Most features are available via the APIs, however some are available only from the DashboardThe Airship web interface located at go.airship.com or go.airship.eu.. Dashboard- and API-only exceptions are noted throughout the docs. See API vs Dashboard below for more information.

Airship API

Create and send messages to users, and use advanced messaging features like AutomationA set of conditions that your audience must meet before they receive a message.. Because this API encompasses the majority of the Airship feature set.

Data Streaming API

Access your app’s event stream, helping you gather information about user interactions with your notifications and app. With Real-Time Data StreamingA service that delivers engagement events in real time via the Data Streaming API or an Airship partner integration., you have access to the data that will help you maximize the effectiveness of your communications.

Channel Registration

Airship’s SDK and Airship API are fundamental to the platform, as they are the mechanisms for registering channelsAn instance representing an entity addressable via the Airship service, e.g., an iOS device, email address, SMS number or web browser. The channel instance or channel object contains all relevant information about a channel, including metadata used for targeting, opt-in status, device-specific information, and, importantly, a unique identifier for the channel, the channel ID.. Channel registration is a basic requirement for sending notifications; you cannot send notifications to a channel that is not registered or in the process of becoming registered.

SDK vs API

The SDK enables communications with mobile devices and web browsers; it makes devices and browsers Airship clients. You will bundle the SDK with your app or website to register and issue notifications to mobile devices and web browsers.

For an Open PlatformA platform for which an SDK is not available, and channel registration and manipulation are handled via the Channels API. Examples: Open Channels, Email., you will use our Channels API to register and manage the opt-in/opt-out status of end users.

Registration Requirements

This table represents the minimum requirements for communicating with the various channels supported by Airship. A channel must either have installed the SDK or be registered via the API.

Authentication

All Airship APIs require authentication. Some endpoints allow multiple authentication schemes. In general, your app should use Basic App authentication, and server-side implementations should use Bearer authentication where available. See also: App Keys & Secrets: Security.

API vs Dashboard

It may be helpful to think of Airship APIs as an expansion of the dashboard feature set. You can do almost anything via the API that you would do using the dashboard — with notable additions, such as:

• Use the custom-events endpoint to associate external data with channels and users.
• Open an event stream with the Data Streaming API to determine the effectiveness of your notifications.
• Use open-channels to communicate with channels and platforms that aren’t natively supported by Airship.

Airship

The Airship API and dashboard support similar functionality, with some differences in terminology between the two. The tables below map message types, composer types, and features to their respective API objects and endpoints.

Message Types

^{1. There is currently no API for in-app automation.}

Composers and API Equivalents

Features

Some features, e.g., tags and named users, can be set via the API (server-side) or the SDK (device-side) but not via the dashboard.

¹ Open Channels require a webhook server that will accept a /push payload.
² Named users and tags can be set client-side, via the SDK.

Real-Time Data Streaming

Real-Time Data Streaming is an API-only feature. The Date Streaming API consists of a single endpoint that opens a real-time event stream for a messaging project. You can authorize event streams for various apps via the dashboard, but you can only access an event stream via the API.

The event stream reflects user actions, changes in device environment, e.g., encountering beacons, and server-side actions, e.g., sending push notifications. You can use the event stream to gather information about how users use your app and determine effectiveness of your communications with your users.

When you make a call to the Data Streaming API, you can set the criteria that determines the events the stream will return. See the Data Streaming API Reference for help with opening and filtering the event stream.