API MANAGEMENT
THE KNOWLEDGE BASE
APIs, that miracle solution that claims to revolutionize innovation and interactions. But what are even APIs, do you really need them and where to start? From API design to architecture, management and security, discover API best practices through Positive Thinking Company's series of publications.
APIs: Enablers our of world economy
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) have become a cornerstone of the current world economy. APIs are the digital transformation enablers for our organizations and businesses. Despite the rise of API-driven integrations and process automations, there is a need for a clear API management strategy.
What can an API Management strategy do for you? As an organization, a sound API Management strategy will allow you to:
- Improve and standardize your processes
- Connect with your customers, suppliers, and platforms
- Monitor and discover new business models thanks to the insights received in your processes
- Manage your API lifecycle through CI/CD including versioning
APIs are here to stay, and they offer huge opportunities. Taking an API-first strategy is the first step to getting your digital transformation right.
What is an API?
An API aka Application Programming Interface is an intermediary to interact with one or more entities to share data. An API is a vital building block in any digital transformation strategy, and one of the most valuable in achieving scale, reach and innovation. At its most basic level, an API is a tool to integrate diverse systems by acting as the communication interface allowing two different applications to exchange data over a network connection without the need to merge physical operational infrastructure. From subroutines to modern API, it is a quintessential solution for any application.
APIs are everywhere
We are in living in an increasingly API-centric world. APIs are everywhere you look – and you might not even realise it. From cars to computers, they are all around us. You’re consuming or providing them but, most likely, you do both. The fastest growing category of APIs over the past years is one that shares and analyzes data across various applications. An area where the characteristics of the API determine the value of the application or deem it untenable for use in the real world modern application development follows API-First methodology.
Evolution of APIs
APIs are older than the Internet. Small programs to becoming tools with an evolution of a full fledged product in the modern application development.
API Management
With an audience of the entire community, it is important to adhere to the principles to stay consistent and up-to-date with the evolution.
Standardisation, Documentation, Specifications, Security and Governance are the primary principles of an API.