Best Practices for Connecting Bubble to a Xano Database

Introduction

Connecting Bubble to Xano combines the simplicity of a no-code front-end with the scalability and robustness of a back-end database. Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively integrate these two platforms — and how to optimize this connection for long-term scalability, performance, and data management.

Step 1: Prepare Your Xano Database

1. Create a Project in Xano

• Log in to your Xano dashboard and create a new project.

• Add your database tables (e.g., users, products, orders).

• Define the structure of each table using appropriate field types (text, number, datetime, reference fields, etc.).

• Use relationships to define one-to-many or many-to-many links between tables (e.g., a user has many orders).

2. Create API Endpoints

• Go to the API section and create RESTful endpoints.

• Use Xano’s Auto CRUD to quickly generate endpoints for your tables.

• Customize endpoints to include conditions, filters, and joins to return exactly the data you need.

• Group endpoints into logical API groups (e.g., Auth, Admin, Public) for easier permission management.

3. Test the APIs

• Use Xano’s API tester to validate input and output formats.

• Test all CRUD operations for each data model.

• Enable logging on endpoints to monitor real-time usage and debug any errors.

Step 2: Configure Bubble to Connect to Xano

1. Install the API Connector Plugin

• In Bubble, go to Plugins > Add Plugins.

• Install the "API Connector" plugin published by Bubble.

2. Set Up the API

• Create a new API in the plugin called “Xano API.”

• Add individual API calls:

  • GET /users – list users

  • GET /users/[id] – get user details

  • POST /users – create user

  • PUT /users/[id] – update user

  • DELETE /users/[id] – delete user

• Set the base URL from Xano, and use dynamic parameters where needed.

3. Add Headers & Authentication

• If your Xano project requires authentication, use headers like:

  • Authorization: Bearer [token]

  • Content-Type: application/json

• Save token in a custom state or database to be reused across sessions.

• Test each API call within Bubble’s API Connector to validate its behavior.

Step 3: Use Xano Data in Bubble

1. Displaying Data (GET Requests)

• Add a repeating group element to display a list of items (e.g., users).

• Set the data source as the relevant API call (e.g., GET /users).

• Map individual fields (e.g., name, email, created date) to text elements inside the repeating group.

2. Sending Data (POST/PUT Requests)

• Create forms in Bubble with input fields.

• Trigger workflows on submit to call POST (create) or PUT (update) endpoints.

• Show success/error alerts using conditional logic based on the response code.

3. Deleting Records (DELETE Requests)

• Attach a delete button inside the repeating group.

• Set a workflow to run on button click that sends a DELETE request to the Xano API.

• Optionally refresh the list or show a toast notification confirming the deletion.

4. Optimizing API Queries

• Use query parameters (?page=1&limit=10) for pagination.

• Apply filters in Xano endpoint logic to minimize data returned.

• Use joins in Xano to reduce the number of separate API calls needed in Bubble.

Step 4: Manage Authentication and User Sessions

1. Sign-up / Login with Xano

• Use POST /auth/login or /auth/signup to authenticate users.

• Store the returned token (JWT) in Bubble’s local storage or custom state.

• Use that token in headers for subsequent requests.

2. Restricting Access in Bubble

• Use conditional workflows or visibility logic to hide/show elements depending on whether a user is logged in.

• For protected API calls, show error messages or redirect unauthorized users.

3. Xano Roles and Permissions

• In Xano, assign roles (admin, user, guest) to your endpoints.

• Use authentication rules to block or allow requests based on the JWT token.

Step 5: Test, Monitor, and Secure Your API Integration

1. Test End-to-End Flows

• Simulate user flows like login, viewing profile, editing data, submitting forms.

• Use Bubble’s debug mode to track values and API call behavior.

2. Monitor Usage and Performance

• Enable Xano’s request logging to monitor traffic and diagnose issues.

• Use Bubble’s performance profiler to measure load times for API-based pages.

3. Secure All Communication

• Ensure all requests are made over HTTPS.

• Store tokens securely.

• Set rate limits in Xano to prevent abuse.

• Disable unnecessary endpoints and remove development/test endpoints from production.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

• Use versioned endpoints (/v1/, /v2/) in Xano to ensure safe deployments.

• Document all API calls and data models in a shared Notion or internal wiki.

• Use Bubble’s "Detect data" feature to auto-parse API responses.

• Create generic utility endpoints in Xano for common workflows like file uploads or notifications.

• Cache frequently accessed data in Bubble’s custom states to reduce repeated API calls.

• Leverage Xano’s task automation (background tasks) to trigger email notifications or process-heavy workflows.

Conclusion

Combining Bubble with Xano gives you full-stack power without writing traditional code. By mastering API Connector setup, CRUD operations, authentication handling, and endpoint optimization, you can unlock scalable, secure, and high-performance apps.

🚀 Need support with your Bubble + Xano integration?

👉 Contact App Studio — we build efficient, production-ready no-code systems that scale with you.