API 101: Understanding the Basics

Overview

APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are fundamental to modern software development, allowing different applications to communicate and share data seamlessly. To illustrate the key components of an API, let's break down a typical API request:

• HTTP Methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE)
• Protocol (HTTPS://)
• Sub-domain (api.)
• Domain (example.com)
• Versioning (/v1)
• Endpoint (/users)
• Filtering parameters (?age=25&gender=male)
• Pagination parameters (&page=2&limit=10)

The image also highlights best practices:

• Always use HTTPS for security
• Use clear subdomain naming conventions
• Version your API for backward compatibility
• Use nouns for endpoints and follow RESTful principles
• Implement filtering and pagination for large datasets]