22 Feb An Ultimate Guide To API Development
Application Programming Interface (API) is a computer software intermediary that allows two or more software to communicate with each other by sharing information, this helps them in linking together. With the help of API, you need not create the app from starting rather you can get services and features from other mobile software.
Whenever we are sending an instant message, using an app like Facebook, or checking the weather on our phone, we are using an API. Therefore, API allows a mobile platform or application to share its information with other platforms or apps and smoothen the user experience without involving the developers. Because of its advantages, both business leaders and app developers emphasize the development of API.
A full-fledged guide on API development is discussed in this passage. Before that, let us have a look at the important terminology related to API.
Topics Covered
TERMINOLOGY OF API DEVELOPMENT
A layman may not understand the terminology build for API. Some of the important API terms are as follows:
– JSON: It stands for JavaScript Object Notion, mainly for requesting parameters and response body.
– Endpoint: One of the ends of the API interactional channel is called an endpoint.
– Latency: The time gap during the request and its respective response.
– SOAP: It is a short-form of Simple Object Access Protocol, a process of messaging and sharing structured information to implement web services.
– Rate-limiting: It describes the rate at which APIs can be accessed by the end-users.
– POST: This HTTP method aids in creating major resources of RESTful API.
– API key: This is an accredited code send by the requester to the receiver.
– GET: The process of obtaining resources for the whole API communication process between two apps is known as getting.
– OAuth: When the users’ information is shared without disclosing the details of the receiver on the Open standard authorization framework is known as OAuth.
– REST: Representational State Transfer enhances the competence of interaction between two software with the help of programming architectural implementation.
CLASSIFICATION OF API
There are basically four categories of API, namely:
– Partner API: The organization or app must have the authorization to access these APIs. For this, the requester must give his details and follow the system to get rightful consent to a Partner API.
– Composite API: This is a mixture of data APIs and other services. It can perform various functions to improve the performance of web interfaces.
– Open API: This is also referred to as Public API, as developers can easily access web services in public and any proprietary software of their choice.
– Internal API: Unlike Open API, it is restricted to internal users only. Only internal development teams can use it to boost the productivity of their services.
TOOLS USED IN API DEVELOPMENT
– Apigee: It is an app development management too by Google that manages the communicating apps and the data exchange between them.
– APIMatic: This helps in creating SDKs for APIs over 10 channels, intended to be used on the web. It lets all channels be in sync. Also, it lets the conversion of all API descriptions in formats like Swagger, OAI format, WADL, etc.
– Sandbox: It eliminates the risk of third-party while testing period by providing easy tests on RESTful API definitions.
– JMeter: It can test the performance of a RESTful API on open-source software.
– Dredd: It manages the validation of API description in the backend and decides whether it is valid or not.
– API spec converter: It helps in converting API spec formats into different formats available.
– Postman: It helps in calculating the performance of API by documenting and testing the same.
– Swagger: It leads to the development of APIs in an open-source framework. It is used by top tech corporates like Microsoft, Getty Images, Paypal, etc.
MAJOR FEATURES IN API DESIGN
– Pagination: With passing time, the database will extend with extra information resulting in more time consumption in recovering the data. Here, pagination helps in preventing the clustering of pages to speed up the process. Also, checks the security of API.
– Wrappers: The language-oriented containers converts the API calls into different user-friendly functions. There is no interaction with the user making the API calls more efficient for the receiver.
– Authentication & authorization: It lets the authentication of the user he proceeds for operating on applications and the whole process of API. Only the ones who are authorized can only perform actions on the API.
– Cache: Clearing cache regularly improves the speed of API and helps users to retrieve resources. It not only simplifies the requests but also reduces the cost of it.
– Handling the errors: It reduces the problems from the client-side in the server and ultimately simplifies the API process. The clients can also contact for support and change the request.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, this is a detailed write-up on what is API and its functioning. Anyone who wants to build an app from scratch can choose API and develop their own app. For this, the API of any prominent app can be requested for assistance.
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