Setting up Zoom APIs and custom integrations enables developers to embed video conferencing, webinars, and meeting management directly into applications or websites. The process involves creating a Zoom developer account, configuring authentication via OAuth 2.0, and using API endpoints to interact with Zoom’s services. Whether you’re building a simple meeting scheduler or a complex virtual classroom system, Zoom’s developer tools provide the infrastructure to automate workflows and enhance user experiences.

Key takeaways from the available sources:

• Authentication via OAuth 2.0 is mandatory, requiring app registration in the Zoom Marketplace to obtain Client ID and Secret ^[1][4][8]
• API requests must include access tokens and adhere to rate limits, with base URLs varying by region ^[1][3]
• Web SDK and Meeting SDK allow embedding Zoom meetings directly into websites or applications ^[4][6]
• Webhooks and WebSockets enable real-time event notifications for dynamic integrations ^[3][7]

Setting Up Zoom APIs and Custom Integrations

Authentication and App Registration

To begin using Zoom APIs, developers must first register an application in the Zoom App Marketplace and configure authentication. This process establishes the credentials needed to interact with Zoom’s services securely. The primary authentication method is OAuth 2.0, which involves obtaining an access token for API requests.

Zoom’s authentication flow includes four key roles:

• Resource Owner: The Zoom user granting access
• Resource Server: Zoom’s API hosting the protected resources
• Client: Your application requesting access
• Authorization Server: Zoom’s service issuing access tokens ^[1]

Steps to register and authenticate your app:

• Create a Zoom developer account at developers.zoom.us and navigate to the App Marketplace
• Click "Create" to register a new app, selecting either OAuth (for user-specific actions) or Server-to-Server OAuth (for account-level automation) ^[1][8]
• Provide required details, including:
• App name and description
• Redirect URI (for OAuth apps, e.g., https://yourdomain.com/auth/zoom/callback) ^[4]
• Scopes defining permissions (e.g., meeting:write, user:read) ^[3]
• After submission, Zoom generates a Client ID and Client Secret, which are used to request access tokens. For example, a server-to-server app might use these credentials in a POST request to https://zoom.us/oauth/token with the grant type client_credentials ^[1][8]
• Store credentials securely (e.g., environment variables or secrets managers) to prevent exposure ^[9]

Authentication best practices:

• Use short-lived access tokens (typically valid for 1 hour) and implement token refresh logic ^[1]
• For user-specific integrations, ensure the redirect URI matches exactly with the one registered in Zoom ^[4]
• Test authentication flows in Zoom’s sandbox environment before deploying to production ^[7]

Building Custom Integrations with Zoom APIs

Once authenticated, developers can leverage Zoom’s APIs to create custom integrations tailored to specific use cases, such as scheduling meetings, managing webinars, or embedding video conferencing. The Zoom API reference documents endpoints for workplace services (meetings, chat, phone) and business services (webinars, contact centers) ^[3].

Core integration methods:

• API Requests: Send HTTP requests to Zoom’s base URL (e.g., https://api.zoom.us/v2/) with the access token in the Authorization header. For example, creating a meeting requires a POST to /users/{userId}/meetings with a JSON payload containing topic, start_time, and duration ^[1][3]
• Web SDK: Embed Zoom meetings directly into web applications using JavaScript. The SDK provides UI components for joining meetings without redirecting users to Zoom’s website ^[6]. Example initialization:

ZoomMtg.init({
leaveUrl: 'https://yourdomain.com', isSupportAV: true, success: function() { ZoomMtg.join({ meetingNumber: '123456789', userName: 'User', signature: 'generatedSignature', apiKey: 'yourAPIKey' }); } });

• Webhooks: Subscribe to real-time events (e.g., meeting started, participant joined) by configuring a webhook endpoint URL in the Zoom App Marketplace. Zoom sends HTTP POST notifications to this URL when events occur ^[3][7]

Common use cases and implementation examples:

• Automated Meeting Scheduling: Use the /users/{userId}/meetings endpoint to create meetings programmatically. Include parameters like:
• type: 2 (scheduled meeting)
• settings: {hostvideo: true, participantvideo: true} ^[3]
• Example response includes a join_url for participants ^[8]
• Webinar Management: The /webinars endpoint supports creating, updating, and listing webinars. Required fields include topic, start_time, and duration ^[3]
• User Management: Retrieve user details via /users or /users/{userId} to sync with internal directories ^[1]
• Attendance Tracking: Enable webhooks for the meeting.participant_joined event and store attendance data in a database ^[4]

Integration tools and platforms:

• CMS Plugins: For WordPress or similar platforms, plugins like Zoom Meetings & Webinars simplify embedding meetings without coding ^[6]
• Wix Velo Package: Wix users can install the Zoom Integration package to manage meetings via backend functions. Setup involves:
• Registering an OAuth app in Zoom
• Storing credentials in Wix Secrets Manager
• Configuring a private collection for user tokens ^[9]
• Serverless Functions: Use AWS Lambda or similar services to handle Zoom API requests securely without exposing credentials client-side ^[8]

Error handling and rate limits:

• Zoom APIs enforce rate limits (e.g., 10 requests per second for most endpoints). Exceeding limits returns HTTP 429 errors ^[1][3]
• Common error codes include:
• 401 Unauthorized: Invalid or expired access token
• 404 Not Found: Non-existent resource (e.g., meeting ID)
• 2000 (Zoom-specific): Invalid request body ^[1]
• Implement retry logic with exponential backoff for rate-limited requests ^[7]