Web APIs are the backbone of modern web development, enabling communication between different software systems. Whether you're building a RESTful service, consuming a GraphQL endpoint, or interacting with legacy SOAP APIs, understanding their principles is essential.

📘 Core Concepts of Web APIs

  1. HTTP Methods

    • GET: Retrieve data (🌍 Example)
    • POST: Send data to create/update resources
    • PUT: Replace entire resource data
    • DELETE: Remove data
    • 📌 Always use GET for fetching data without side effects.

  2. Status Codes

    • 200 OK: Successful request
    • 404 Not Found: Resource doesn't exist
    • 500 Internal Server Error: Server-side issue
    • Status Code

  3. Request/Response Structure

    • Headers, body, and status line form the foundation
    • JSON/XML are common data formats
    • API Communication

🚀 Common Web API Types

  • REST API
    • Stateless, resource-based architecture
    • RESTful Design
  • GraphQL API
    • Query language for efficient data fetching
    • Learn more
  • SOAP API
    • XML-based protocol for enterprise systems
    • SOAP Architecture

🔐 Best Practices for API Development

  • Use authentication (e.g., OAuth2, API keys)
  • Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse
  • Document endpoints clearly (e.g., Swagger/OpenAPI)
  • API Security

📚 Expand Your Knowledge

For visual learners, check out our interactive API diagram tool to explore concepts dynamically! 📊