An API is the part of a software program that is accessible to other programs. It is the external area of a software component. For this reason, you might see a reference to the API surface area of a program. The API surface area is the outside layer of the program or component, lik...
What is an API call? AnAPI callis a request made to an API to access data or functionality. A client makes an API call and sends a request to the API server, and the server sends back a response. The request and response use a specific format and structure, and are transmitted using...
With each of these API calls, there’s also a conversation to be had aroundsecurity. When an API call is made, it’s critical that the server is properly configured to defend against unknown or illegitimate sources, as well as to ensure users only have access to the data that should be ...
Any data can be shared with an application programming interface. APIs are implemented by function calls composed of verbs and nouns; the required syntax is described in the documentation of the application being called. For example, on a real estate website, one API might publish available real...
An API is a published or unpublished Applications Programming Interface, usually a way to execute actions on a (often) remote device using a set of predefined protocols. For example, google publish an API for their mapping application to enable people to reach out and ask for the distance betw...
Examples of API calls Circling back to the example above, the submission of a user’s log-in credentials via an app prompts an API call for the server to provide access. Once the server validates that the correct username and password have been provided, the user is granted access to the...
An API-first company is an organization that has adopted the API-first development model. How API-first works For an organization to adopt an API-first development model, they need to prioritize APIs, recognize the role of public, private, and partner APIs in organizations, and understand the...
What is an API? Connections and principles explained For many organizations, APIs are just pieces of code that help perform tasks. But if you’re engaged in theAPI economyand start seeing APIs as the source of monetization or growth, you need to operate them with more finesse. For you, AP...
What is an API? An API, or an application programming interface, is the conduit through which two systems can communicate. Here’s a simple analogy that can help you unpack this definition: An API is the wire that connects two tin cans and allows Billy and Susie to tell secrets from thei...
The API Ecosystem Explained An API ecosystem simply refers to creating an integrated piece of software that uses APIs to connect different microservices. This is an essential part of bringing together all the needed applications for a more complex software design. ...