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Get started with Yale Locks
Learn how to connect and control your Yale lock with the Seam API.
Yale Smart Locks
Seam provides a universal API to connect and control many brands of smart locks. This guide provides a rapid introduction to connecting and controlling your Yale lock using the Seam API. Note that this guide is intended for Yale locks connected via the Yale wifi bridge and Yale access app. For Z-Wave Yale devices, head over to our guide for SmartThings.
To learn more about other smart lock brands supported by Seam such as August, Schlage, and Salto, head over to our integration page.
Seam provides client libraries for many languages such as Javascript, Python, Ruby, and PHP, as well as a Postman collection and OpenAPI spec.
$ export SEAM_API_KEY=seam_test2ZTo_0mEYQW2TvNDCxG5Atpj85Ffw
This guide uses a Sandbox Workspace. Only virtual devices can be connected. If you need to connect a real Yale Lock, use a non-sandbox workspace and API key.
To control your Yale lock via the Seam API, you must first authorize your Seam workspace against your Yale account. To do so, Seam provides Connect Webviews: pre-built UX flows that walk you through authorizing your application to control your Yale lock.
Python
Javascript
Ruby
from seamapi import Seam
seam = Seam()
webview = seam.connect_webviews.create(accepted_providers=["yale_access"])
assert webview.login_successful is False
# Send the webview URL to your user
print(webview.url)
import Seam from "seamapi";
const seam = new Seam();
const { connect_webview: connectWebview } = await seam.connectWebviews.create({
accepted_providers: ["yale_access"],
});
console.log(connectWebview.login_successful); // false
// Send the webview URL to your user
console.log(connectWebview.url);
require "seamapi"
seam = Seam::Client.new(api_key: "MY_API_KEY")
webview = seam.connect_webviews.create(
accepted_providers: ["yale_access"]
)
puts webview.login_successful # false
# Send the webview URL to your user
puts webview.url
Navigate to the URL returned by the Webview object. Since you are using a sandbox workspace, complete the login flow by entering the Yale sandbox test accounts credentials below:
- email: [email protected]
- password: 1234
- 2-factor-auth: 123456
Seam Connect Webview flow to connect Yale account with Seam
Confirm the Connect Webview was successful by querying its status:
Python
Javascript
Ruby
updated_webview = seam.connect_webviews.get(webview.connect_webview_id)
assert updated_webview.login_successful # true
const updatedWebview = await seam.connectWebviews.get(connectWebview.connect_webview_id)
console.log(updatedWebview.login_successful) // true
updated_webview = seam.connect_webviews.get(webview.connect_webview_id)
puts updated_webview.login_successful # true
After a Yale account is linked with Seam, you can retrieve devices for this Yale account. The Seam API exposes most of the device's properties such as battery level or door lock status.
Python
Javascript
Ruby
all_locks = seam.locks.list()
some_lock = all_locks[0]
assert some_lock.properties["online"] is True
assert some_lock.properties["locked"] is True
print(some_lock)
# Device(
# device_id='b013d947-cef1-4dfe-8aa2-1e452eca5262',
# device_type='yale_lock',
# location=None,
# properties={
# 'locked': True,
# 'online': True,
# 'door_open': False,
# 'manufacturer': 'august',
# 'battery_level': 0.9999532347993827,
# 'august_metadata': {...},
# 'name': 'BACK DOOR'},
# capabilities_supported=['access_code', 'lock']
# )
const allLocks = await seam.locks.list()
const someLock = allLocks[0]
console.log(someLock.properties.online) // true
console.log(someLock.properties.locked) // true
console.log(someLock)
/*
{
device_id: 'b013d947-cef1-4dfe-8aa2-1e452eca5262',
device_type: 'yale_lock',
capabilities_supported: [ 'access_code', 'lock' ],
properties: {
locked: true,
online: true,
door_open: false,
manufacturer: 'august',
battery_level: 0.9999532347993827,
august_metadata: {
lock_id: 'lock-2',
lock_name: 'BACK DOOR',
has_keypad: true,
house_name: 'My House'
},
name: 'BACK DOOR'
},
location: null,
connected_account_id: '2a860181-dba7-49aa-9d5e-a66ff585dc08',
workspace_id: 'd7418ff3-a476-4f48-9a4b-211d1d21a03d',
created_at: '2022-12-16T00:52:16.975Z',
errors: [],
warnings: []
}
*/
some_lock = seam.locks.list().first
puts some_lock.properties["online"] # true
puts some_lock.properties["locked"] # true
puts some_lock
# <Seam::Device:0x00960
# device_id="b013d947-cef1-4dfe-8aa2-1e452eca5262"
# device_type="yale_lock"
# properties={
# "locked"=>true,
# "online"=>true,
# "door_open"=>false,
# "manufacturer"=>"august",
# "battery_level"=>0.9999532347993827,
# "august_metadata"=>{...},
# "name"=>"BACK DOOR"
# }
# created_at=2022-12-16 00:52:16.975 UTC
# errors=[]
# warnings=[]>
Next, you can perform the basic action of locking and unlocking the door.
post
/locks/lock_door
post
https://connect.getseam.com
/locks/unlock_door
Unlock a door
Python
Javascript
Ruby
# lock the door
seam.locks.lock_door(some_lock)
updated_lock = seam.locks.get(some_lock.device_id)
assert updated_lock.properties["locked"] is True
# Now unlock the door
seam.locks.unlock_door(some_lock)
updated_lock = seam.locks.get(some_lock.device_id)
assert updated_lock.properties["locked"] is False
// lock the door
await seam.locks.lockDoor(someLock.device_id)
const updatedLock = await seam.locks.get(someLock.device_id)
console.log(updatedLock.properties.locked) // true
// unlock the door
await seam.locks.unlockDoor(someLock.device_id)
updatedLock = await seam.locks.get(someLock.device_id)
console.log(updatedLock.properties.locked) // false
# lock the door
seam.locks.lock_door(some_lock)
updated_lock = seam.locks.get(some_lock.device_id)
puts updated_lock.properties["locked"] # true
# unlock the door
seam.locks.unlock_door(some_lock)
updated_lock = seam.locks.get(some_lock.device_id)
puts updated_lock.properties["locked"] # false
Most Yale locks come with a keypad built-in to program access codes. These codes can then be entered to unlock a Yale lock.
The Seam API makes it easy to program both
ongoing codes and timebound codes on a Yale lock. You can find out more about Yale lock access code in our core concept section on access codes.Python
Javascript
Ruby
# create an ongoing code
seam.access_codes.create(
device=some_lock, code="123456", name="Personal Access Code"
)
# create a timebound code
seam.access_codes.create(
device=some_lock,
code="888888",
name="My Temp Access Code",
starts_at="2028-08-12T19:23:42+0000",
ends_at="2028-08-13T19:23:42+0000"
)
# you can use a device or a device_id as the "device" parameter
seam.access_codes.list(device=some_lock)
# [
# AccessCode(
# access_code_id='af5272b1-2a49-4eb5-9388-2447fc7b5bd1',
# type='ongoing',
# code='123459'
# ),
# AccessCode(
# access_code_id='8c2db4da-b137-4c08-a2c3-d611e6ff91b3',
# type='timebound',
# code='888888',
# starts_at='2028-08-12T19:24:00.000Z',
# ends_at='2028-08-13T19:24:00.000Z',
# )
# ]
// create an ongoing code
await seam.accessCodes.create({
device_id: someLock.device_id,
code: "123456",
name: "Personal Access Code",
});
// create a timebound code
await seam.accessCodes.create({
device_id: someLock.device_id,
code: "888888",
name: "My Temp Access Code",
starts_at: "2028-11-12T19:23:42+0000",
ends_at: "2028-11-13T19:23:42+0000",
});
// use a device_id as the "device_id" parameter
await seam.accessCodes.list({
device_id: someLock.device_id,
})
/*
[
{
code: '1988',
type: 'ongoing',
status: 'setting',
created_at: '2022-08-26T12:50:17.858Z',
access_code_id: '26d6138c-6524-4f3c-ac96-43cc3bea0a8d'
},
{
type: 'timebound',
code: '888888',
starts_at: '2028-08-12T19:24:00.000Z',
ends_at: '2028-08-13T19:24:00.000Z',
access_code_id: '8c2db4da-b137-4c08-a2c3-d611e6ff91b3',
}
]
*/
# create an ongoing code
seam.access_codes.create(
device_id: some_lock.device_id,
code: '123456',
name: 'Personal Access Code'
)
# create a timebound code
seam.access_codes.create(
device_id: some_lock.device_id,
code: '888888',
name: 'My Temp Access Code',
starts_at: '2028-08-12T19:23:42+0000',
ends_at: '2028-08-13T19:23:42+0000'
)
# you can use a device or a device_id as the "device" parameter
seam.access_codes.list(some_lock)
# [<Seam::AccessCode:0x00730
# code="888888"
# name="My Temp Access Code"
# type="time_bound"
# errors=[]
# warnings=[]
# access_code_id="ce2c298c-364f-4b13-aa12-712f3976288e"
# ends_at=2028-08-13 19:24:00 UTC
# starts_at=2028-08-12 19:24:00 UTC>, <Seam::AccessCode:0x00758
# code="123456"
# name="Personal Access Code"
# type="ongoing"
# errors=[]
# warnings=[]
# access_code_id="75f49550-fc9b-481a-a158-5bc53ac9bb34">, <Seam::AccessCode:0x00780
# code="086355"
# name="some-code2"
# type="ongoing"
# errors=[]
# warnings=[]
# access_code_id="5243e5f3-528a-4378-ba3c-21447bf844a8">, <Seam::AccessCode:0x007a8
# code="376525"
# name="some-code"
# type="ongoing"
# errors=[]
# warnings=[]
# access_code_id="91a08a3d-a0bb-4ff0-bfb4-ced164353988">]
Now that you've completed this guide, you can try to connect a real Yale device. To do so, make sure to switch to a non-sandbox workspace and API key as real devices cannot be connected to sandbox workspaces.
In addition, if you'd like to explore other aspects of Seam, here is a list of helpful resources:
If you have any questions or want to report an issue, email us at [email protected]