If you have ever collaborated with mobile app developers, then you must be familiar with the word API a dozen times. Today, we are going to analyze everything about APIs – what are they, how they work, how to employ them, and so much more.
Prepare to discover the world of APIs, those behind-the-scenes heroes that enable communication in mobile applications.
What is API and Why Does it Matter?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules, guidelines, and protocols which allow applications, platforms, or devices to communicate with each other. Essentially, APIs allow apps to talk to each other.
For instance, in Candy Crush when you press on the “Connect Facebook” icon, you will not be requested to enter your Facebook credentials yourself. Rather, the application brings your information right from Facebook’s server through an API.
APIs are the basis for all applications that imply data communication or exchange between systems. They allow apps to exchange data without any hassle, without developers spending time implementing redundant functionality from square one. Because of these benefits, API development has become a top agenda for both app developers and business executives.
If you’re looking for API development frameworks or want to understand the API development process, then this guide is for you.
Before we dive into the technical details, let us discuss some important API development terms that will help you better understand the concept.
Terminologies of API Development
a) API Key – A unique authorization code passed into an API request header or parameter to identify the requester.
b) Endpoint – A specific point of interaction where an API connects with another system.
c) JSON – JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight data format used in API request parameters and response bodies.
d) GET – The HTTP method used in RESTful APIs to retrieve data from a server.
e) POST – The HTTP method used in RESTful APIs to create new resources on a server.
f) OAuth – An open standard authorization framework that allows users to grant access to their data without sharing login credentials.
g) REST – Representational State Transfer (REST) is a lightweight API architectural style that enhances communication efficiency between systems. It provides access to requested data on-demand rather than transmitting complete datasets. APIs built on REST principles are called RESTful APIs, and the World Wide Web is a prime example of a RESTful system.
h) SOAP – Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is a messaging protocol used for exchanging structured information in web services. It operates on XML-based data formats and works with transport protocols like HTTP and SMTP.
i) Latency – The total time taken by an API to process a request and deliver a response.
j) Rate-Limiting – A process that restricts the number of API requests an end user can make within a specific timeframe.
k) API Throttling – A technique for controlling API usage to avoid overwhelming. For instance, if an API can handle 1,000 requests per day, a request over this number will return an HTTP 429 error response stating, “Too Many Requests.”
Having introduced API development fundamentals and important terminology, let’s proceed to the technical side of things by learning how APIs function and how an API is developed.
Working of API
Imagine booking a flight on a travel website or mobile application. You enter details such as departure date, destination, and flight preferences and click the Search icon. Within seconds, your screen shows you with a list of available flights, prices, and available seats.
How does this happen?
- The travel platform sends a request to the airline’s server via an API call.
- The airline’s API fetches relevant flight data from its database.
- The API transmits this data back to the travel platform.
- The travel platform displays the retrieved flight details to the user.
In this scenario:
- The flight booking app and the airline’s website are the endpoints.
- The API acts as the bridge facilitating data exchange.
APIs use two primary communication methods:
- REST (Representational State Transfer) – Lightweight, scalable, and widely preferred.
- SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) – More complex, heavyweight, and platform-dependent.
Most mobile app development companies favor RESTful APIs over SOAP due to their efficiency and flexibility.
How to Develop an API?
Now, let’s address the most crucial questions:
- How to develop an API?
- Which API development tools and technologies should you choose?
- What best practices ensure effective API development?
Tools for API Development
When it comes to API development, there are several tools and technologies that can help developers build effective APIs. Some of the most popular and commonly used API development tools are listed below:
a) Apigee
A Google-owned API management platform that helps developers and businesses embrace digital transformation through API integration strategies.
b) APIMatic and API Transformer
These tools offer automated SDK generation and allow developers to convert API-specific formats into various specifications like RAML and API Blueprint.
c) API Science
Used primarily for evaluating API performance, both for internal and external APIs.
d) API Serverless Architecture
Provides cloud-based serverless solutions that allow developers to design, build, publish, and host APIs without managing physical infrastructure.
e) API-Platform
An open-source PHP framework designed for developing web APIs.
f) Auth0
A powerful identity management solution that enables secure authentication and authorization for APIs.
g) ClearBlade
A tool that integrates API management with IoT (Internet of Things) technology.
h) GitHub
An open-source Git repository hosting service that helps developers manage code files, track version control, handle pull requests, and facilitate collaborative development.
i) Postman
A widely used API toolchain that enables developers to test, document, and monitor API performance.
j) Swagger
An open-source API development framework used by companies like Microsoft and GettyImages to design, build, and document APIs.
While APIs have revolutionized the way applications communicate, not all APIs are built the same way. Some make integration easier, and some make integration more difficult. In order to build an effective and developer-friendly API, let us examine some requirements of an API.
Must-Have Features of an Efficient API
Here are some key API features that developers should consider when building a secure and scalable mobile application:
a) Modification Timestamps / Search by Criteria
APIs should allow users to search data based on various criteria, such as date-based searches. This is particularly useful after the initial data synchronization when users want to track updates, edits, or deletions.
b) Paging
Instead of displaying large chunks of data all at once, APIs should support pagination, enabling users to load only relevant portions of data while keeping performance optimized. The API should also indicate the number of pages available.
c) Sorting
To ensure efficient data retrieval, APIs should allow users to sort records based on modification time or other predefined conditions.
d) JSON Support / REST
While not mandatory, APIs built using RESTful principles with JSON support are lightweight, stateless, and highly efficient. Unlike SOAP-based APIs, REST APIs allow retries in case of failure and are easier to parse across different programming languages.
e) Authorization via OAuth
APIs should implement OAuth-based authorization, as it provides faster authentication without requiring users to manually enter credentials.
In summary, a well-built API should have minimal processing time, low response latency, and robust security. Now, let’s explore some best practices for ensuring effective API development.
Best Practices for Building the Right API
a) Use Throttling
Throttling is essential for managing API traffic, redirecting excessive requests, and preventing Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
b) Treat Your API Gateway as an Enforcer
The API gateway should act as a security checkpoint that enforces throttling rules, OAuth authentication, and API keys. It should also provide encryption capabilities to protect sensitive information.
c) Allow Overriding HTTP Methods
Since some proxies only support GET and POST requests, APIs should allow overriding HTTP methods using the custom HTTP Header:
X-HTTP-Method-Override
d) Monitor APIs and Infrastructure
APIs must be monitored regularly for problems such as memory leaks, CPU usage, and network saturation. Rather than manually monitoring, developers can utilize services such as AWS CloudWatch to analyze performance in real-time.
e) Have Strong Security
Whereas security is a priority, this must not be at the expense of usability. If it takes longer than five minutes for users to authenticate, your API is not convenient. An authentication system based on tokens can make API security convenient without sacrificing convenience.
f) Document Properly
Good API documentation is essential in making API adoption easy for other developers. Properly documented APIs:
- Minimize project implementation time
- Decrease development costs
- Increase API efficiency
API Development Cost
In total, it will cost approximately $20,000 to create a simple API. This calculation is assuming you are creating a secure, well-documented, and full-featured API with the services of an experienced API software developer from a top-rated API development firm.
Conclusion
Now that you have a thorough grasp of APIs, how they work, and important considerations for development, are you ready to start your API development journey?
If that is what you are looking for, reach out to our IT consulting experts for top-notch API development services. Being one of the leading API and mobile app development companies, we can take care of the entire API development process and ensure the development of a secure, high-performing API.
Moreover, if you need mobile app development services, we can help with that too. Being a reputable mobile app and API development agency in the USA, we are determined to provide you with innovative solutions as per your business requirements.
