All About APIs! From Basics to Best Practices 💡🚀
Tags: api, webdev, javascript, programming
Published: 2024-03-31 15:13:21

This is a very fundamental topic in any field.

So, read till the end for the maximum knowledge!

## 🤔 What is an API? What is its significance?

API is the acronym for "application programming interface" — a software standing between the two applications that allows them to talk to each other.

It defines the methods and data structures that developers can use to interact with a service, library, or platform.

Every time you use a rideshare app or send a mobile payment, you’re using an API.

APIs are very important for software development because they enable us to

➡️ leverage the functionality of existing software components
➡️ integrate with third-party services, and
➡️ build more powerful and feature-rich applications.

***

## 📡 How do APIs work?

APIs work by sending and receiving requests. 

A client application (such as a mobile app or website) sends a request to an API server. 

The API server then processes the request and returns a response. 

The response can be data, a user's profile information or something like an array of objects of different products, or it can be a function, such as sending an email or creating a new user account.

***

## 🔢 Types of APIs

There are various types of APIs, with RESTful APIs being one of the most common. 

Others include SOAP, GraphQL, and WebSockets, each designed for specific use cases and technologies.

Example -

| Technology | Use-Case                              |
|------------|---------------------------------------|
| SOAP       | Inter-system communication            |
| GraphQL    | Efficient API data queries            |
| WebSockets | Real-time bidirectional communication |

***

## 🔌 API Components

### 1️⃣ Endpoint

The specific URLs or URIs that an API exposes for interaction.

### 2️⃣ Requests

How you ask the API for information or to perform a task.

### 3️⃣ Responses

The data and information returned by the API after processing your request.

***

## 🔐 Authentication and Authorisation

APIs often require authentication to ensure that only authorised users or applications can access their resources. 

Common authentication methods include **API keys, tokens, and OAuth**.

This is a concept that'll be used by you the most!

***

## 🔄 RESTful APIs

Representational State Transfer (REST) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. 

It relies on a few key principles:

### 1️⃣ Statelessness

Each request from a client to the server must contain all the information required to understand and process the request.

### 2️⃣ Resource-Based

REST APIs use resources (e.g., objects, data) as their main abstractions.

### 3️⃣ CRUD Operations

REST APIs map to CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, commonly using HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).

***

## 🔍 HTTP Methods

👉 GET: Retrieve data from the server.
👉 POST: Create new data on the server.
👉 PUT: Update existing data on the server.
👉 DELETE: Remove data from the server.

***

## 📊 Status Codes

HTTP status codes provide information about the result of the API request. 

Common codes include:

➡️ **200** (OK)
➡️ **201** (Created)
➡️ **400** (Bad Request)
➡️ **404** (Not Found)

***

## 📝 Best Practices for RESTful APIs

✅ Use nouns for resource names in URLs.
✅ Use HTTP status codes appropriately.
✅ Implement versioning for APIs.
✅ Provide clear and consistent documentation.

***

## ⏱ Wrapping Up

APIs are like bridges between apps, letting them share and use each other's features.

They're vital for making apps work together smoothly.

Understanding APIs helps developers build better apps with more & better functionality.

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