This guide provides best practices for working with the Weather API. Following these recommendations will help ensure efficient, reliable, and secure integration.
Authentication
Always pass your API key as a query parameter
Pass your API key (appid) as a query parameter in every request.
Never embed API keys in public repositories
Use environment variables or configuration files to store your API key securely.
Request Efficiency
Be specific in queries
Use coordinates (lat, lon) when possible instead of general city names. Coordinates return faster and avoid ambiguity (e.g., multiple "Springfield" cities).
Limit request frequency
Avoid sending unnecessary duplicate requests. Cache results where appropriate—weather data typically updates every few minutes, not seconds.
Error Handling
Handle standard HTTP response codes:
200: Successful request
401: Invalid or missing API key
404: City not found
429: Too many requests (rate limited)
Build retry logic with exponential backoff
Always implement retry logic with exponential backoff for temporary errors.
Rate Limits
The free tier of the API enforces rate limiting.
Avoid hitting rate limits by:
- Caching responses locally
- Scheduling updates at reasonable intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes)
- Consolidating requests where possible
Localization
Use the lang parameter
Use the lang parameter to return weather descriptions in your user's preferred language.
Default language handling
If you don't specify lang, the API defaults to English.
Units and Data Consistency
Always set the units parameter
Always set the units parameter (metric, imperial, or standard) to ensure consistent data across your application.
Document your unit system
Document internally which unit system your app expects—mixing units can cause errors.
Security
Use HTTPS for all requests
Use HTTPS (https://) for all requests to encrypt traffic.
Rotate API keys periodically
Rotate your API key periodically for security.
Protect keys in client-side apps
Do not expose keys in client-side code when building public-facing apps.
Testing
Use sample locations for testing
Use sample locations (e.g., q=London) for initial testing.
Validate edge cases
Validate edge cases such as:
- Invalid city names
- Extreme weather values (very high/low temps, high wind speeds)
- Empty or missing parameters
By following these best practices, developers can integrate the Weather API in a way that is efficient, secure, and user-friendly.