Skip to main content

Looker CORS API Proxy Pattern (General)

This skill describes the Scoped API Token Proxy pattern. This architectural pattern allows frontend applications to make direct, performant API calls to Looker from the browser while maintaining strict security by delegating authentication to a secure backend.

1. The Core Pattern​

The pattern solves the "Browser Secret Problem": Browsers cannot safely hold API Client Secrets, but direct API access (CORS) requires an authentication token.

Architectural Components​

  1. Application Frontend: The client-side UI that requires data. It makes direct fetch or XHR calls to Looker's API endpoints.
  2. Application Backend (The Proxy/Signer): A secure server-side component that holds Looker Admin credentials. It does not proxy data; it only proxies Identity and Authentication.
  3. Looker API: The source of data, configured to trust the Frontend's origin via CORS.

2. The Authentication Delegation Flow​

Instead of the backend fetching data and passing it back, the backend provides the frontend with the "keys" to fetch the data itself.

  1. Identity Verification: The Frontend authenticates with the Application Backend using the app's standard auth mechanism (JWT, Session Cookie, etc.).
  2. Token Exchange: The Backend uses its Admin credentials to request a user-scoped access token from Looker.
    • User Mapping: The backend maps the application user to a Looker identity (creating or updating the user if necessary).
    • Permission Scoping: The backend ensures the requested token only has the specific permissions and model access required for that user's role.
  3. Token Delivery: The Backend sends the Looker access_token back to the Frontend.
  4. Direct API Access: The Frontend uses the access_token in an Authorization: Bearer <token&gt; header to call Looker APIs directly.

3. Implementation Requirements​

Security & Looker Configuration​

  • Embed Domain Allowlist: Looker will reject any browser-side request unless the Frontend's origin (protocol, domain, and port) is explicitly added to the Embedded Domain Allowlist in Admin > Embed.
  • HTTPS: Both the application and the Looker instance must use HTTPS to satisfy modern browser security policies for CORS and sensitive headers.

Backend Responsibilities​

  • Secret Management: Admin Client IDs and Secrets must never leave the backend environment.
  • Session Lifecycle: The backend should handle token expiration. When a token expires, the frontend should be able to request a fresh one from the backend.
  • Provisioning Strategy: Use Looker's User API or Cookieless Embedding API to ensure the user exists and is correctly configured with external_user_id before attempting a login.

Frontend Responsibilities​

  • Token Storage: Store the acquired token securely in memory (not in persistent storage if possible) and include it in all Looker API headers.
  • Handling 401s: Implement logic to detect expired tokens and trigger the "Token Exchange" flow automatically.

4. Why Use This Pattern?​

  • Performance: Large payloads (JSON, CSV, Images) bypass the application server entirely, reducing latency and backend CPU/Memory usage.
  • Scale: Looker handles the data delivery load; your backend only handles small authentication payloads.
  • Native Experience: Developers can use standard Looker API documentation and SDKs directly in the browser without building a parallel API on their own server.

5. Troubleshooting Common Pitfalls​

  • Preflight (OPTIONS) Failures: Usually caused by the origin missing from the Embed Domain Allowlist or the Looker instance having restrictive CSP headers.
  • Token Scope Creep: Ensure the backend isn't granting more permissions than the user needs; the token should be "least privilege."
  • Cookie Interference: Ensure the frontend is making "credentialless" requests or that the Looker instance is not relying on legacy cookie-based authentication for these API calls.