Identify SharePoint Object Type: REST API And Graph API Guide

Aug 14, 2025 by Axel Sørensen 62 views

Understanding SharePoint Objects: Identifying a Site with REST API and Graph API

Hey guys! Ever stumbled upon a mysterious object in SharePoint and wondered, "What exactly is this thing?" It's a common head-scratcher, especially when you're diving into APIs and trying to pull data. In this article, we're going to unravel the mystery of identifying SharePoint objects, specifically focusing on how to determine if something is a site using both the SharePoint REST API and the Microsoft Graph API. We'll use the example URL https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki as our case study. Let's dive in and get those answers!

Identifying SharePoint Objects

In the realm of SharePoint, objects come in various forms – sites, lists, libraries, folders, and more. Each of these objects has unique properties and behaviors, making it crucial to identify them correctly, especially when interacting with SharePoint programmatically. When you're working with SharePoint, you're essentially navigating a hierarchical structure. The site is a fundamental building block, acting as a container for lists, libraries, and other components. Think of it as a digital workspace dedicated to a specific project, team, or purpose. Each site has its own settings, permissions, and branding, allowing for a customized user experience. Understanding how to programmatically identify a site is crucial for tasks like automated provisioning, reporting, and integration with other systems. Identifying the type of object you're dealing with is the first step toward performing the right operations and retrieving the correct information. For instance, if you're trying to fetch a list of documents, you need to ensure that you're targeting a document library within a site, not a list or a folder. SharePoint offers several ways to identify objects, including REST API endpoints, the Microsoft Graph API, and client-side object model (CSOM). Each method has its own strengths and is suited for different scenarios. The REST API, for example, is ideal for platform-agnostic development, while the Microsoft Graph API provides a unified interface for accessing data across Microsoft 365 services. In this article, we'll focus on using the REST API and the Microsoft Graph API to identify a SharePoint site.

Using SharePoint REST API

The SharePoint REST API is a powerful tool for interacting with SharePoint data using standard web protocols. It allows you to perform a wide range of operations, from retrieving site information to managing lists and libraries. One of the key advantages of the REST API is its simplicity and platform-agnostic nature. You can use any programming language or tool that supports HTTP requests to interact with SharePoint. The REST API follows the OData (Open Data Protocol) standard, which provides a uniform way to query and manipulate data. This means that you can use familiar query parameters like $select, $filter, and $expand to tailor your requests and retrieve exactly the data you need. To identify a SharePoint site using the REST API, you can make a GET request to the site's endpoint and examine the response. The endpoint for a site is typically in the format /_api/web. This endpoint returns a JSON payload containing various properties of the site, such as its title, URL, and description. By examining these properties, you can confirm that the object is indeed a site. The SharePoint REST API also supports batching, which allows you to combine multiple requests into a single call. This can significantly improve performance, especially when you need to retrieve data from multiple objects. Batching is particularly useful in scenarios like provisioning, where you might need to create multiple sites, lists, and libraries in a single operation. However, keep in mind that batching has its limitations, such as the maximum number of requests per batch and the complexity of handling errors across multiple operations. Overall, the SharePoint REST API is a versatile tool for identifying and interacting with SharePoint objects. Its simplicity, flexibility, and adherence to web standards make it a valuable asset for any SharePoint developer.

Making a Request

To determine if https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki is a SharePoint site using the REST API, you can send a GET request to the _api/web endpoint. The full URL would look something like this:

https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki/_api/web

You'll need to include appropriate authentication headers in your request. This typically involves obtaining an access token from Azure Active Directory (AAD). Once you have the access token, you can include it in the Authorization header of your request:

Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

Using tools like Postman or programming languages like JavaScript (with libraries like fetch or axios), Python (with libraries like requests), or C# (with HttpClient), you can easily send this request and handle the response. The key here is to make sure you're sending the correct headers for authentication, as SharePoint will reject unauthenticated requests. Many modern applications use OAuth 2.0 for authentication, which involves obtaining an access token from an authorization server. This token is then included in the Authorization header of each request, allowing the server to verify the identity of the client. When sending requests to SharePoint, you'll typically need to obtain an access token from Azure Active Directory (AAD), which is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service. The process of obtaining an access token involves several steps, including registering your application in AAD, configuring permissions, and exchanging credentials for a token. Once you have the token, you can include it in the Authorization header of your requests, allowing you to access SharePoint resources on behalf of the user or application.

Examining the Response

The response from the REST API will be in JSON format. A typical response for a site will include properties like Title, URL, and Description. If the response contains these properties, it confirms that the object is indeed a SharePoint site. For example, a simplified response might look like this:

{
 "d": {
 "Title": "CompanyWiki",
 "URL": "https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki",
 "Description": "A wiki for company knowledge."
 }
}

The presence of these properties strongly indicates that you're dealing with a SharePoint site. If you receive an error or a response without these properties, it suggests that the URL might not be a valid site or that you don't have the necessary permissions to access it. Analyzing the JSON response is a crucial step in identifying SharePoint objects. The structure and properties of the response can provide valuable insights into the type of object you're dealing with and its characteristics. For example, a site response will typically include properties related to its title, URL, description, and other site-specific settings. A list response, on the other hand, will include properties related to its schema, fields, and items. By carefully examining the response, you can programmatically determine the type of object and extract the relevant information. In addition to the main properties, the response may also include metadata and links to related resources. Metadata provides information about the response itself, such as the content type and the OData version. Links allow you to navigate to related resources, such as the site's lists and libraries. Understanding how to interpret these additional elements can help you build more robust and efficient SharePoint applications. For instance, you can use the links to retrieve additional information about the site or to perform actions on related resources.

Using Microsoft Graph API

The Microsoft Graph API provides a unified endpoint for accessing data across Microsoft 365 services, including SharePoint. It's a powerful alternative to the SharePoint REST API, offering a more modern and consistent approach to data access. The Graph API uses a single endpoint (https://graph.microsoft.com) for all services, which simplifies development and reduces the learning curve. Instead of having to learn different APIs for each service, you can use the Graph API to access data from Exchange, Teams, OneDrive, and more. This unified approach makes it easier to build applications that integrate with multiple Microsoft 365 services. One of the key advantages of the Graph API is its support for rich queries and relationships. You can use OData query parameters like $select, $filter, and $expand to tailor your requests and retrieve exactly the data you need. The Graph API also provides a rich set of relationships between objects, allowing you to navigate the Microsoft 365 ecosystem with ease. For example, you can retrieve a user's profile, their groups, their files, and their calendar events all in a single API call. The Graph API also offers advanced features like change notifications, which allow you to subscribe to changes in data and receive real-time updates. This is particularly useful for building applications that need to react to changes in SharePoint, such as document approvals or list item updates. Change notifications can help you reduce polling and improve the responsiveness of your applications. Overall, the Microsoft Graph API is a powerful and versatile tool for accessing data across Microsoft 365. Its unified endpoint, rich query capabilities, and support for advanced features make it a valuable asset for any Microsoft 365 developer. When working with SharePoint, the Graph API provides a modern and efficient way to identify and interact with sites, lists, and other objects.

Making a Request

To use the Graph API to identify a SharePoint site, you can make a GET request to the sites endpoint. To access the site https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki, you'll need to use its site ID. You can construct the API endpoint like this:

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/{site-id}

To get the site-id, you can use the following Graph API endpoint using the site URL:

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites?filter=webUrl eq 'https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki'

Similar to the SharePoint REST API, you'll need to include an access token in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

The process of obtaining an access token for the Graph API is similar to that for the SharePoint REST API. You'll need to register your application in Azure Active Directory (AAD) and configure the necessary permissions. The Graph API uses OAuth 2.0 for authentication, which involves obtaining an access token from AAD and including it in the Authorization header of your requests. One of the key differences between the Graph API and the SharePoint REST API is the scope of permissions. The Graph API provides a unified permissions model that covers all Microsoft 365 services, while the SharePoint REST API has its own set of permissions. When using the Graph API, you'll need to request the appropriate permissions for the resources you want to access. For SharePoint, this typically involves requesting the Sites.Read.All or Sites.ReadWrite.All permissions. It's important to choose the least privileged permissions that your application needs to function, as this helps to improve security and reduce the risk of unauthorized access. The Graph API also supports delegated and application permissions, which determine the context in which your application can access resources. Delegated permissions are used when the application is acting on behalf of a user, while application permissions are used when the application is acting on its own behalf. Understanding the difference between these permission types is crucial for building secure and scalable Microsoft 365 applications.

Examining the Response

A successful response from the Graph API will include properties like id, displayName, and webUrl. If these properties are present, it confirms that the object is a SharePoint site. Here's an example of a simplified response:

{
 "id": "mycompany.sharepoint.com,f92f9e40-1111-4222-b333-8051a54d9a67,cc083a63-4444-4555-b666-94d6d0f1a582",
 "displayName": "CompanyWiki",
 "webUrl": "https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki"
}

The id property is a unique identifier for the site, while displayName is the site's title, and webUrl is the URL of the site. If you receive an error or a response without these properties, it indicates that the site might not exist or that you lack the necessary permissions. Error handling is an important aspect of working with any API, including the Microsoft Graph API. When an error occurs, the Graph API returns a JSON payload containing an error code, a message, and other details. By examining these details, you can diagnose the cause of the error and take appropriate action. Common errors include invalid access tokens, missing permissions, and incorrect API endpoints. The Graph API also provides a rich set of error codes that can help you troubleshoot specific issues. For example, the 401 Unauthorized error indicates that the access token is invalid or missing, while the 403 Forbidden error indicates that the user or application does not have the necessary permissions to access the resource. Understanding these error codes can help you quickly identify and resolve issues in your applications. In addition to the error code and message, the error response may also include details about the specific request that caused the error. This can be particularly useful for debugging complex queries or operations. By examining the request details, you can identify potential issues such as incorrect query parameters or missing headers.

Conclusion

Identifying SharePoint objects programmatically is a fundamental skill for SharePoint developers. Whether you're using the SharePoint REST API or the Microsoft Graph API, understanding how to make requests and interpret responses is crucial. In this article, we've walked through the steps to identify a SharePoint site using both APIs, using the example URL https://mycompany.sharepoint.com/sites/CompanyWiki. By examining the properties in the responses, you can confidently determine the type of object you're dealing with and proceed with your development tasks. The SharePoint REST API and the Microsoft Graph API are both powerful tools for interacting with SharePoint, but they have different strengths and are suited for different scenarios. The SharePoint REST API is a mature and well-established API that provides comprehensive access to SharePoint data. It's a good choice for applications that need fine-grained control over SharePoint resources or that need to work with older versions of SharePoint. The Microsoft Graph API, on the other hand, is a more modern and unified API that provides access to data across Microsoft 365 services. It's a good choice for applications that need to integrate with multiple Microsoft 365 services or that need to take advantage of advanced features like change notifications. Ultimately, the choice between the SharePoint REST API and the Microsoft Graph API depends on the specific requirements of your application. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each API, you can make an informed decision and choose the best tool for the job. Happy coding, folks!