API Flashcards
(17 cards)
Is like a digital mediator that enables different software applications to talk to each other and exchange information
Application Programming Interface (API)
A unique passcode of letters and numbers that grants access to an API
API key
The digital location where an API receives requests abouts its resources
Endpoint
Uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, DELETE, PUT) to tell the API what you want to do
Request Method
Process of a client (your computer) making an API request to a server
API call
A number of code that appears in the body of an API response that tells you if your request was successful or not
Status Code
Authenticates and processes API requests before delivering an appropriate response
API server
A response generated by the API server and returned to the client (your computer)
API response
How does an API work?
1) Make a request
2) API retrieves data
3) API responds
Is the most common form of API today and it’s web based.
RESTful API (Representational State Transfer)
work in similar fashion, except they only fetch and respond with the specific data you want instead of getting all of it.
GraphQL (query language) API
It uses XML (extensive markup language). They were the standardized approach for communicating between different software applications in the early 2000s
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) API
4 types of API
1) Open API
2) Partner API
3) Internal API
4) Composite API
Available to the public and can be used by any developer without restriction.
Open API
Shared with specific business partners under license or agreement.
Partner API
Used within a company and not exposed to external users.
Internal API
Combines multiple APIs or services into a single call.
Composite API
