Everything you need to know about API

We will cover all APIs if you have heard API a million times while talking to mobile app developers. This article includes information about API development, API use, and how API works. So get ready to dive into the world of API integration, the superpowers that power the operation of mobile apps.

Let's start with APIs.

The Essential Features of an Effective API

Here are some API features that you can use to build a secure mobile app:

a) Modification Timestamps/Search according to criteria:

Modification timestamps/Search according to criteria is the most critical API feature an app should have. An API should allow users to search data using different criteria, such as a date. Because we only consider the changes (updates, edits, and deletes) after the initial data synchronization.

b) Page:

Sometimes, we want to see only some of the data modified, but only a portion. The API should be able to determine how much data is displayed at what frequency and in what amount. The API should inform the user about the number. There are still pages of data.

c) Sorting:

To ensure that end users receive all data pages, the API should allow them to sort data according to the modification time or other conditions.

d) JSON/ REST Support:

Although not mandatory, it is a good idea to consider your API RESTful (or providing JSON(REST)) to develop an API. REST APIs allow you to retry uploading mobile apps if it fails. This is very difficult for SOAP. JSON's syntax is similar to most programming languages. This makes it simple for mobile app developers to convert it into other languages.

e) Authorization via Auth:

This is again necessary because OAuth is quicker than other methods - all you have to do is click on a button, and it's done.

The processing time should be minimal, the response time should be quick, and security levels high. Therefore, implementing API development best practices for applications that deal with large amounts of data is essential.

The Best Practices for building the Right API

a) App Throttling: App Throttling can be a great way to redirect traffic and backup APIs and protect them from DoS attacks.

b) Your API gateway should be considered an enforcer. When setting up throttling rules or applying API keys, the API gateway must also be considered the enforcement point. It should be viewed as a cop who allows only authorized users access to data. You should be able to decrypt and edit the message and analyze and manage how APIs are used.

c) Allow overriding HTTP methods: Some proxies only support GET or POST. Therefore, you must allow your RESTful API to override the HTTP method. To do so, employ the custom HTTP Header X-HTTP-Method-Override.

d) Assess the APIs and Infrastructure: It is possible to do real-time analysis at the moment, but what about if an API server is suspected of memory leaks, CPU draining, or other issues? You can't keep a developer on duty in such cases. However, you can accomplish this task using various tools, such as AWS cloud watch.

e) Security: Your API technology must be secure, but not at the expense of user-friendliness. Your API may only be user-friendly if it takes up to five minutes to authenticate. To make your API secure, you can use token-based authentication.

f) Documentation. Last but not least, providing extensive documentation for API for mobile apps is profitable. This lets other developers quickly understand the process and use the information to offer better user experiences. Good API documentation will help you reduce the time and cost of your API development project.

API Development Terminology

a)API Key: An API Key is an authorization code passed to an API request via a header or parameter that recognizes the requester.

b) Endpoint: An API can interact with another system. This is called Endpoint.

c) JSON: JavaScript object Notion, or JSON, is a data format that APIs use to request parameters and respond bodies.

d) Get: This is the RESTful interface's HTTP method for obtaining resources. It is also known as GET.

e) POST is the RESTful API's HTTP way to build resources.

f) OAuth is an Open standard authorization framework. It grants access from the user's end without sharing credentials.

g) REST ( Representational State Transfer ) is a programming architecture implementation that aims to improve communication efficiency between two devices/systems. It is lightweight and works on making data only available when requested. Instead of sharing the actual data, it shares references to the data. These systems are called 'RESTful' systems. The World Wide Web is the best example of RESTful systems.

h) SOAP The Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is a messaging protocol that allows for the sharing of structured information during the execution of web services over computer networks. It can be used with XML and application layer protocols (such as HTTP and SMTP for message format, message negotiation & transport, respectively).

i) Latency: This refers to the time it takes for the API interface to process the request and return the response.

j) Rate-Limiting. The API Rate-limiting process limits the rate at which end users can access APIs. It refers to limiting a user's requests to an API at any given time.

k) API Throttling is the process of controlling API usage by users over a specific period. This can also be used to limit API usage. For example, you can set a limit of 1000 API requests per calendar day. The server will send 429 HTTP status messages to users when they reach the 1001 request.

Final Words

Now that you are more familiar with API development terminology let's dive deeper into the technical side. Let's start with API Integration Services In Delhi and creating API (how to make an API).