MSDN Documentation Reference

Welcome to the comprehensive reference documentation for MSDN. This section provides detailed information on APIs, libraries, and best practices for developing with Microsoft technologies.

Introduction to MSDN

The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) offers a vast collection of resources for developers, including documentation, code samples, tools, and technical articles. This reference focuses on the core APIs and services available to developers.

Getting Started

To begin using the MSDN APIs, you'll typically need to set up an application registration and obtain an API key or OAuth token. Refer to the Authentication API section for detailed instructions.

Here's a basic outline of the development process:

  1. Register your application.
  2. Obtain authentication credentials.
  3. Make API calls to interact with services.
  4. Handle responses and errors gracefully.

Authentication API

Secure your applications using our robust authentication mechanisms. We support OAuth 2.0 for token-based authorization.

Obtaining an Access Token

To get an access token, you need to send a POST request to the token endpoint with your client credentials.

POST /oauth2/token
Host: login.microsoftonline.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

grant_type=client_credentials&client_id=YOUR_CLIENT_ID&client_secret=YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET&scope=https%3A%2F%2Fgraph.microsoft.com%2F.default

The response will contain your access token, which you can then use in the Authorization header of your API requests.

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN

Token Expiration

Access tokens have a limited lifespan and will expire. You should implement logic to refresh your token before it expires.

Data Retrieval API

Access and manipulate data using our powerful data retrieval endpoints. This API is designed for efficient querying and fetching of information.

Getting User Data

Retrieve information about a specific user by providing their ID.

GET /api/v1/users/{userId}
Host: api.msdn.microsoft.com
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN

Request Parameters

Parameter Type Description Required
userId string The unique identifier of the user. Yes
fields string A comma-separated list of fields to retrieve. If omitted, all fields are returned. No

Example Response (JSON)

{
  "id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-1234-567890abcdef",
  "displayName": "Jane Doe",
  "email": "jane.doe@example.com",
  "createdOn": "2023-10-27T10:00:00Z"
}

Management API

Manage your MSDN resources and services programmatically. This API allows for administrative tasks.

Creating a New Resource

Use the POST method to create new resources.

POST /api/v1/resources
Host: api.msdn.microsoft.com
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "name": "MyNewResource",
  "type": "Service",
  "configuration": {
    "region": "West US"
  }
}

Tutorials

Explore our step-by-step tutorials to learn how to implement common scenarios with MSDN services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I reset my API key?
You can reset your API key through your developer dashboard. Navigate to "My Applications" and select the "Reset Key" option for your specific application.
What are the rate limits for the API?
The standard rate limit is 1000 requests per minute per API key. For higher limits, please contact our support team.
Can I use the API from a different domain?
Yes, cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) is enabled for all MSDN API endpoints. Ensure your application is configured correctly to handle CORS requests.