Dataverse Web Apps

dataverse-web-apps

This skill provides guidance on building web applications (any language) that connect to Microsoft Dataverse. Use when users ask about ".NET Dataverse", "Node.js Dataverse", "JavaScript Dataverse", "REST API Dataverse", "web app Dataverse", "OAuth Dataverse", or need help with web application integration.

Dataverse Web API

All languages can access Dataverse via the OData Web API.

Base URL: https://yourorg.api.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.2/

Authentication

Dataverse uses OAuth 2.0. Get an access token first:

POST https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenant}/oauth2/v2.0/token
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded

client_id={app_id}
&client_secret={secret}
&scope=https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com/.default
&grant_type=client_credentials

REST API Examples

List records:

GET /api/data/v9.2/accounts?$select=name,telephone1&$top=10
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

Get single record:

GET /api/data/v9.2/accounts({guid})
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

Create record:

POST /api/data/v9.2/accounts
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}
Content-Type: application/json

{"name": "New Account", "telephone1": "555-0100"}

Update record:

PATCH /api/data/v9.2/accounts({guid})
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}
Content-Type: application/json

{"telephone1": "555-0200"}

Delete record:

DELETE /api/data/v9.2/accounts({guid})
Authorization: Bearer {access_token}

Node.js Client

const axios = require('axios');
const { ConfidentialClientApplication } = require('@azure/msal-node');

// Authentication
const msalConfig = {
    auth: {
        clientId: process.env.AZURE_CLIENT_ID,
        clientSecret: process.env.AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET,
        authority: `https://login.microsoftonline.com/${process.env.AZURE_TENANT_ID}`
    }
};

const cca = new ConfidentialClientApplication(msalConfig);

async function getToken() {
    const result = await cca.acquireTokenByClientCredential({
        scopes: [`${process.env.DATAVERSE_URL}/.default`]
    });
    return result.accessToken;
}

// Dataverse client
class DataverseClient {
    constructor(baseUrl) {
        this.baseUrl = `${baseUrl}/api/data/v9.2`;
    }

    async request(method, path, data = null) {
        const token = await getToken();
        const response = await axios({
            method,
            url: `${this.baseUrl}${path}`,
            headers: {
                'Authorization': `Bearer ${token}`,
                'Content-Type': 'application/json',
                'OData-MaxVersion': '4.0',
                'OData-Version': '4.0'
            },
            data
        });
        return response.data;
    }

    async listAccounts() {
        return this.request('get', '/accounts?$select=name,telephone1&$top=100');
    }

    async createAccount(data) {
        return this.request('post', '/accounts', data);
    }
}

.NET Client

using Microsoft.Identity.Client;
using System.Net.Http;
using System.Net.Http.Headers;

public class DataverseClient
{
    private readonly HttpClient _httpClient;
    private readonly string _baseUrl;
    private readonly IConfidentialClientApplication _app;

    public DataverseClient(string baseUrl, string tenantId, string clientId, string clientSecret)
    {
        _baseUrl = $"{baseUrl}/api/data/v9.2";
        _httpClient = new HttpClient();

        _app = ConfidentialClientApplicationBuilder
            .Create(clientId)
            .WithClientSecret(clientSecret)
            .WithAuthority($"https://login.microsoftonline.com/{tenantId}")
            .Build();
    }

    private async Task<string> GetTokenAsync()
    {
        var result = await _app.AcquireTokenForClient(
            new[] { $"{_baseUrl}/.default" }
        ).ExecuteAsync();
        return result.AccessToken;
    }

    public async Task<string> ListAccountsAsync()
    {
        var token = await GetTokenAsync();
        _httpClient.DefaultRequestHeaders.Authorization =
            new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", token);

        var response = await _httpClient.GetAsync(
            $"{_baseUrl}/accounts?$select=name,telephone1"
        );
        return await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync();
    }
}

OAuth Flows

Client Credentials (Server-to-Server)

• Best for backend services
• No user interaction required
• Uses app registration + client secret

Authorization Code (User Context)

• Best for user-facing apps
• User signs in via browser
• Access data as the user

Device Code

• Best for CLI tools
• User enters code on separate device

Security Best Practices

1. Never expose client secrets in frontend code
2. Use HTTPS for all API calls
3. Implement token caching to reduce auth calls
4. Handle token refresh before expiration
5. Use minimal permissions in app registration
6. Validate user permissions in your app

References

• See references/dotnet-client.md for .NET examples
• See references/nodejs-client.md for Node.js examples
• See references/oauth-flows.md for authentication details