I’m attempting to link my API with Zapier, but I keep encountering a problem with JSON parsing. The error displays as ‘Unexpected token o in JSON at position 1’, and I’m unsure why it’s occurring.
var apiUrl = "MY_API_REQUEST_URL";
var requestHeaders = {
"Accept": "application/json",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "MY_API_KEY"
}
};
// Invoke the API
var responseData = fetch(apiUrl, requestHeaders);
var parsedData = JSON.parse(responseData);
callback(parsedData);
As I’m relatively inexperienced with APIs and JavaScript, I’d appreciate any advice on how to resolve this issue!
Been there many times - async JavaScript in Zapier is a nightmare. Yeah, everyone’s right about the Promise issue, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Zapier’s JavaScript sucks for complex API work. You’ll hit more walls like this, especially with error handling, retries, or chaining multiple API calls.
I ditched Zapier for Latenode after dealing with this crap too many times. It handles async automatically, has real error handling, and you don’t wrestle with Promise chains or async/await.
With Latenode, you’d just drag and drop - HTTP request connects to whatever’s next. No code, no parsing errors, no JavaScript debugging. Moved all my complex API stuff there and never went back.
Way more reliable than fighting Zapier’s code steps with tricky APIs. Better debugging tools too.
yep, looks like you’re not waiting for the fetch to finish. You gotta use .then() or async/await. Like this: const response = await fetch(apiUrl,requestHeaders); const data = await response.json(); callback(data);
the ‘o’ error is a promise issue - fetch returns a promise, not the actual json. when you try json.parse, you get “[object Promise]” and that’s where it breaks. also, move your authorization header outta the nested headers!
I hit this exact same issue when I started with Zapier integrations. The problem is fetch returns a Promise, not the actual data. You need to handle the async stuff properly. Try this instead: fetch(apiUrl, requestHeaders).then(response => response.json()).then(data => callback(data)); The response object has a built-in json() method that does the parsing for you - no need for JSON.parse. Also, double-check your API is actually returning valid JSON. Sometimes the endpoint returns an error page or different content type that looks like JSON but isn’t.
You’re getting a Unexpected token o in JSON at position 1 error when trying to parse the response from your API call within Zapier. This error indicates that the response isn’t valid JSON, preventing JSON.parse from working correctly. The problem is likely due to how you’re handling the asynchronous nature of the fetch API call and some issues with your request headers.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
The fetch function in JavaScript is asynchronous. This means that it doesn’t immediately return the API response; instead, it returns a Promise that will eventually resolve with the response. Your code attempts to parse the response using JSON.parse(responseData) before the fetch call has completed and the responseData variable contains the actual JSON data. At this point, responseData holds the Promise object itself, which is not a valid JSON string, leading to the error.
Another problem lies in your requestHeaders object. The Authorization header should be at the top level of the requestHeaders object, not nested within another headers property. This is a common mistake that can lead to the API rejecting your request, potentially resulting in an unexpected response that’s not valid JSON.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Use .then() to Handle the Promise: The core fix involves using the .then() method of the Promise returned by fetch to handle the response once it’s available. This ensures that JSON.parse is only called after the API request has successfully completed. Replace your current code with this:
var apiUrl = "MY_API_REQUEST_URL";
var requestHeaders = {
"Accept": "application/json",
"Authorization": "MY_API_KEY" // Authorization header at the top level
};
// Invoke the API and handle the response asynchronously
fetch(apiUrl, requestHeaders)
.then(response => {
// Check for errors. A non-200 status code indicates a problem
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
}
return response.json(); // Parse the JSON response
})
.then(parsedData => {
callback(parsedData);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Error fetching or parsing data:", error);
// Handle the error appropriately, such as displaying an error message to the user.
callback(null); //Or a suitable error object
});
Verify Your API Key and URL: Double-check that "MY_API_KEY" is correct and that "MY_API_REQUEST_URL" points to the right API endpoint. A simple typo in either can cause unexpected responses.
Inspect the API Response: If the error persists, use your browser’s developer tools or a tool like Postman to directly examine the raw HTTP response from your API. This will help you determine if the API is returning valid JSON or if there’s a problem on the server-side. Look for any error messages or status codes that might indicate the cause of the issue.
Test Thoroughly: Test your Zapier integration again with various inputs. Observe the console for any errors or warning messages, which may provide further information for debugging.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Incorrect Content Type: Ensure your API is actually sending a Content-Type: application/json header in its response. If not, the browser might not handle it correctly, causing response.json() to fail.
Server-Side Errors: The problem might not be on your client-side code. A server-side error in your API could be returning an HTML error page instead of JSON. Check your API’s logs for any errors.
Rate Limiting: If you’re making many requests, your API might be rate-limiting you. Check your API’s documentation for rate limits.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!