Have you thought about how important it is for online stores to show prices in different currencies? Imagine someone in Japan visiting your online shop from the U.S. If they can’t see prices in their local currency, they might get confused and not buy anything. This is where we use an exchange rate API. We integrate a reliable exchange rate API into our apps to make reliable currency conversions.
This blog will explain why real-time currency conversion matters in global online shopping. It will show you how to use the Fixer API to add this feature to your store. We’ll talk about the challenges of dealing with multiple currencies and why letting customers pay in their own currency is so helpful.
We’ll also introduce the Fixer API, which gives you the latest exchange rates for over 170 currencies. You’ll learn how it works and why it’s a good choice for adding real-time currency conversion to your online store.
Follow along as we explore how real-time currency conversion can make a big difference in your online business.
Table of Contents
What Is Fixer API?
The Fixer API is a top tool for getting currency exchange rates. It covers over 170 different currencies. It’s reliable, with a 99.9% uptime. Therefore, can trust it for accurate rates.
This API gives you both historical and real-time rates. It updates every 60 seconds, so you always have the latest info. If you’re on a budget or just want to try it out, there’s a Free Plan. It gives you 100 requests per month without needing a credit card.
Fixer API is great because
- It provides real-time rates for 170+ currencies.
- You can access historical rate data.
- It’s easy to integrate with other apps.
- It offers reliable data from multiple financial institutions.
- It supports different data formats like JSON, XML, and CSV.
However, one downside of it is the free plan has limits on requests and features.
How Does Fixer API Stand Out Compared to Other Currency APIs?
👉The Fixer API stands out because it provides accurate and up-to-date data for over 170 currencies. It updates every 60 seconds, which is more frequent than other APIs.
👉It’s easy to use and integrate into apps. The API’s structure is simple, and it comes with helpful examples and documentation. Integration typically takes about 10 minutes.
👉Security is a priority with the Fixer API. It uses strong 256-bit SSL encryption to protect user data.
👉Another great feature is its free plan. It includes an API key, 100 monthly API calls, hourly updates, and access to historical data, making it accessible for developers and businesses.
What Is the Importance of Real-time Currency Conversion in Global Businesses?
Real-time currency conversion matters in global online shopping because it shows prices in the customer’s local currency. This makes it easier for them to understand the cost. This helps businesses stay competitive and avoid overcharging or undercharging.
Dealing with multiple currencies can be tough for businesses. They need to monitor exchange rates, update prices, and manage currency conversion fees. It’s also important for businesses to support multiple currencies in their payment systems.
Letting customers pay in their currency is helpful because it reduces abandoned carts and confusion about prices. Customers don’t need to calculate exchange rates or pay extra fees for currency conversion, making the shopping process simpler and more transparent.
How Do You Integrate Fixer API Into an E-commerce Platform?
Here are the steps to integrate Fixer API into an E-commerce platform.
Setting Up Environment
First, ensure that you have installed Visual Studio Code on your computer.
Open the command prompt and create a directory using the following command:
[crayon-663b92394a2b9002129872/]Open the directory in the Visual Studio Code using the following commands:
[crayon-663b92394a2c1916036196/]When the directory opens in the Visual Studio Code, create a new file and name it “index.html”. You will see it like the example given below:
Getting the API Key.
Now, the next step is to get the API key from the Fixer website.
Create an account on the Fixer website.
Verify and login to your account.
Get your API key from the dashboard.
Once you get the API Key, the next step is to build your sample application.
Building the Application
Inside your index.html file, write the below code step-by-step:
HTML Structure
[crayon-663b92394a2c3352912509/]The HTML code defines a simple e-commerce app with a login form and a product listing. It also includes a cart section to display selected items and their quantities.
Login Form
It consists of a username input field, a password input field, and a login button. When the user clicks the login button, the login() function is called to validate the username and password.
Product Listing
Three products are listed, each with an image, name, price, and an “Add to Cart” button. Clicking the “Add to Cart” button calls the addToCart() function to add the item to the cart.
Cart Section
It displays the items added to the cart. Each item shows the product name, price, quantity, and total price. The total number of items in the cart and the total cart value are also displayed.
CSS Structure
[crayon-663b92394a2c4886084929/]- Body Sets the font family, background color, margin, and padding.
- Container Styles the main container that holds the app content, including max-width, margin, padding, background color, border radius, and box shadow.
- Form Group Styles the form elements, including margin-bottom.
- Label Styles the labels for form inputs.
- Input Styles the input fields, including width, padding, border radius, and border.
- Button Styles the buttons, including width, padding, background color, text color, text alignment, text transformation, border, border radius, and cursor.
- Product Styles the product items, including margin-bottom.
- Cart Item Styles the cart items, including flexbox properties for alignment and margin-bottom.
- Cart Table Styles the cart table, including width and border-collapse.
- Table Header Styles the table header, including background color.
- Table Header Cells Styles the table header cells, including padding, text alignment, and border.
- Table Rows Styles the table rows, including padding and border.
- Table Row Hover Effect Styles the hover effect for table rows, including background color.
- Total Row Styles the total row, including margin-top and font weight.
JavaScript
[crayon-663b92394a2c6850740494/]- Add to Cart Function (addToCart(product, price)) Adds the selected product to the cart. If the product is already in the cart, it increases the quantity; otherwise, it adds a new item to the cart.
- Update Cart Function (updateCart()) Updates the cart UI to display the added items, including the product name, price, quantity, and total price.
- Update Prices Function (updatePrices()) Updates the prices of products based on the selected currency. It fetches the exchange rates from a third-party API and calculates the new prices.
- Update Cart Total Function (updateCartTotal()) Calculates the total cart value based on the selected currency and updates the total displayed in the cart.
Exchange Rate API: Final Code
[crayon-663b92394a2c8000610876/]Note: Don’t forget to add the API Key in the given placeholder “YOURAPIKEYHERE”
Check the GitHub Code Here: https://github.com/devayesha23/My-Ecommerce-App
Check out the video demo here:
Output
When you run the code in Visual Studio Code, you will get the below web page:
Enter the login credentials:
Username: user
Password: password
After you log into the app, here is the main page:
You may change the currency from the dropdown given at the top of the web page. For example, we changed it to PK; here is the updated page:
Now, when you add any product to the cart and scroll down the page, there will be a grid layout showing the details of the product with a button to increase the quantity. There will also be a total cost in front of each product and at the end of the grid layout.
When you change the currency from the above dropdown option, it will also update the prices in the “Your Cart” section. Here is an example:
See the final code in GitHub.
Exchange Rate API: Conclusion
Implementing a real-time currency exchange rate API in your online store is crucial. It helps customers see prices in their local currency, making it easier for them to shop. This blog explained the importance of real-time currency conversion and how to use the Fixer API to add this feature to your store.
The Fixer exchange rate API is a tool that provides currency exchange rates for over 170 currencies. It’s reliable and offers both historical and real-time rates. Integrating the Fixer API into your e-commerce platform is straightforward and can be done in a few steps.
Real-time currency conversion is essential for global businesses as it simplifies the shopping experience for customers. It reduces abandoned carts and confusion over prices. Hence, making your online store more competitive.
Exchange Rate API: FAQs
Is Exchange Rate API Free?
Fixer Exchange Rate API is free to use for basic currency conversion needs.
What Is the API for Currency Rate?
The API for currency rate is the Fixer API. It provides real-time and historical exchange rates.
Is Google Currency API Free?
Yes. the Google Currency API is free to use.
Is Conversion API Free?
Fixer API allows free currency conversion. It gives you 100 free API requests per month.
Start using Fixer API today to streamline your currency conversion needs!