The body of an API call contains a set of parameters and their corresponding values. The API documentation must list every parameter for each endpoint. It should also provide parameter descriptions, what data types are acceptable, and emphasize if a parameter is required or optional. Let’s expl...
The functionality of application programming interfaces (APIs) is built upon several layers — one of which includes requests made to APIs to retrieve a service or data, or what’s otherwise known as an API call. To further explain what an API call is, let’s start with the basics of API...
Before we expound on what an API call is, let’s first discuss some API basics. What is an API? API stands for Application Programming Interface. It can be defined as a set of protocols, procedures, and tools that allow interaction between two applications. It is the software intermediary ...
The API specifies the function calls, the inputs that the applications accept, and the outputs that they return. Here’s a simplified overview of the process: A client sends a request or call to an API server, usually over the internet or a local network. The request is made using a ...
API Backend The API backend is the name often used for the software that translates the API call into action(s). It could be an integration technology such as an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), a database, another cloud service, a microservice, application, or web server. In each case, ...
The evolution ofAPI managementand API security is intrinsically linked to the evolution of APIs themselves. Early APIs primarily focused on inter-process communication within a single system. As such, security (or the lack thereof) was less of a concern because communication was confined to a sing...
1“Remote Procedure Call”, ibm.com, 3 November 2023. 2“What is GraphQL”, Chrystal R. China, ibm.com, 8 December 2023. 3“Comparing REST and SOAP”, ibm.com, 5 March 2021. 4“GraphQL vs. REST API: What’s the difference?”, Chrystal R. China, ibm.com, 29 March 2024....
API Backend The API backend is the name often used for the software that translates the API call into action(s). It could be an integration technology such as an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB), a database, another cloud service, a microservice, application, or web server. In each case, ...
API gateway. The API gateway is the front end of API management. It provides security, such as authentication and credential management; policy management; call rate throttling; routing; logging; monitoring; and observability features for the API provider. Developer portal. This feature provides self...
API Gateway (APIG) is your cloud native gateway service. With APIG, you can build, manage, and deploy APIs at any scale to package your capabilities. With just a few clic