Can Collection and Item IDs in Webflow change over time and cause 404 API responses even if the slugs still match?
TL;DR
- Collection and Item IDs in Webflow can change, causing 404 API errors, if a collection/item is deleted and recreated, a backup is restored, or a project is cloned.
- Prevent issues by dynamically fetching IDs via the API, tracking slugs instead of IDs, and implementing error handling to detect changes.
- Fix errors by verifying IDs using Webflow’s API and refreshing stored IDs if they become outdated.
Yes, Collection IDs and Item IDs in Webflow can change under certain circumstances, which can lead to 404 API responses, even if the corresponding slugs remain the same. Below are key reasons why this can happen and how to address it.
1. Why Collection and Item IDs Can Change
- Deleting and Recreating a Collection: If you delete a Collection and later create a new one with the same name, Webflow assigns it a new Collection ID. Any API calls referencing the old ID will fail.
- Deleting and Recreating an Item: If an Item is deleted and recreated, Webflow assigns it a new Item ID, even if the slug remains identical.
- Restoring from Backup: If a backup is restored, Collection and Item IDs may revert to those that existed at the time of the backup, invalidating API calls that reference different IDs.
- Cloning a Project: When you clone a project, all Collection and Item IDs are regenerated from scratch.
2. How to Prevent 404 API Errors
- Use Dynamic Lookups Instead of Hardcoded IDs: Instead of storing ID values, fetch them dynamically from Webflow’s Collections API before making requests.
- Track Slugs Instead of Direct IDs: If possible, record slugs and use them to retrieve Item IDs via the ?slug=your-slug API query.
- Check for Errors After Requests: Implement error handling for API responses, and if a 404 error occurs, refetch Collection or Item IDs to verify whether they have changed.
3. Fixing API 404 Errors
- Verify IDs in Webflow CMS API: Use the Webflow /collections or /items endpoints to confirm that the IDs match the latest versions in Webflow.
- Manually Update Stored IDs: If your app caches Collection or Item IDs, refresh them periodically to avoid referencing outdated values.
Summary
Yes, Webflow Collection and Item IDs can change, leading to 404 API responses. To prevent issues, avoid hardcoding IDs and use dynamic lookups with slugs when possible. If errors occur, refresh your stored IDs by querying Webflow’s API.