API Development
API development is a crucial aspect of modern web applications, enabling communication between different services and systems. Here’s a breakdown of key concepts and best practices for building APIs: 1. Types of APIs RESTful APIs : Use HTTP requests to perform CRUD operations. They are stateless and resource-oriented. GraphQL : Allows clients to request specific data, reducing over-fetching and under-fetching. SOAP : A protocol that uses XML for message formatting; less common in modern development. 2. Design Principles Resource-Based : Structure your API around resources (e.g., users, products) with clear URIs. HTTP Methods : Use appropriate methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to represent actions on resources. Statelessness : Each request from the client must contain all the information needed for the server to fulfill it. 3. Authentication and Security API Keys : Simple method for identifyin