API Development & Integration

APIs enable applications to communicate, share data, and extend functionality. They allow frontend and backend separation, mobile app creation, third-party integrations, and omnichannel experiences. Well-designed APIs reduce development time, improve maintainability, and enable team independence. Modern ecommerce depends on APIs for payments, shipping, marketing automation, and analytics.

REST uses standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) with predictable endpoints and simpler implementation. GraphQL allows clients to request the exact data needed, reducing over-fetching and supporting complex queries. REST suits straightforward operations; GraphQL excels with complex relationships and multiple clients with varying data needs. Choosing depends on use cases and team expertise.

Authentication (verify user identity) and authorization (verify permissions) are foundational. Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse, input validation to prevent injection attacks, and HTTPS encryption to protect data. Use strong API key management, regular security testing, and deprecation policies for old API versions. Monitor unusual access patterns to detect compromise.

Stateless API design enables horizontal scaling across multiple servers. Implement caching to reduce database load, use pagination to prevent massive data transfers, and optimise database queries. Rate limiting protects against overload. Monitor performance metrics, identifying bottlenecks. Cloud infrastructure like AWS or Google Cloud enables automatic scaling during traffic spikes.

Comprehensive documentation includes endpoint descriptions, request/response examples, error codes, and authentication methods. Interactive documentation using Swagger or Postman enables testing directly in the documentation. Code examples in multiple languages accelerate developer adoption. Regular documentation updates as APIs evolve prevent confusion. Good documentation reduces support requests and accelerates integration.