Build Talking Apps for Alexa

Wrapping Up

Not all Alexa skills are self-contained applications. Much like many browser-based Javascript applications, Alexa skills might be a front end to one or more backend services.

Among the services offered by the Alexa platform is the unified preference service, a service that provides some essential information about the user and the settings for the device they are using. Using the unified preference service, your skill can fetch a user’s name, phone number, or email address—as long as the user grants permission for the skill to do so by responding to a permissions consent card displayed in the Alexa companion application.

Similarly, Alexa skills can consume services hosted outside of themselves, including REST services that are secured ...