Introduction to Understanding API Requirements
In this blog post, we’ll explore some requirements that API developers need to consider when designing and building an API.
Creating and Validating JSON Web Tokens (JWT) in Node.js
In this blog article, we covered what a JSONWeb Token (JWT) is, how to create a JWT, and how to verify a JWT.
REST API Architecture 101
The API architecture is made up of four different layers: the Interaction Layer, Integrational Layer, Application Layer, and Information Management Layer (databases).
7 Tips for Writing Better API Documentation
If an API isn’t documented, the chance of it being consumed by other developers is incredibly low. For a very long time, companies like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Apple were dominant players in technology. They were dominant players because they had a compelling product and great documentation.
Establishing an API First Approach
An API First Approach implies that the API is a first class citizen. The API is developed with the goal of API consumption in mind. The API is our point of differentiation.
What is an API program?
An API program is a plan that a company has developed to market, support and monetize a public API. There are thousands – maybe even tens of thousands of companies with public and open APIs.
5 Differences Between REST & SOAP
REST and SOAP are different ways of transmitting data between two different systems via an API. REST is a set of architectural principles. SOAP is a protocol maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium.
What are unified APIs?
A unified API is an abstraction that allows us to combine APIs for multiple providers – giving us one place to access all of their endpoints.
7 Common API Development Terms
When building and maintaining APIs there are a lot of different terminology that you need to be aware of. This isn’t a complete list, but it’s enough to make you dangerous.
What is the difference Between enterprise WSDL and partner WSDL in Salesforce?
When connecting to the Salesforce SOAP API, there’s two different WSDL options: the Enterprise WSDL and the Partner WSDL.
Creating a Custom Salesforce REST API Endpoint
Apex classes and methods can be exposed to external applications as REST based endpoints.
This means that there’s a very easy way to have an external application make a direct call into Salesforce to do a specific action.
How should a REST Endpoint Handle No Results?
Handling no results in a collection endpoint and at a singular resource can be a bit of a tricky situation.
Do REST API Standards Exist?
With REST there’s no standard, but there are some standards associated with REST such as oAuth and OpenAPI.
How to Optimize an API
Optimization can mean a lot of things like simplifying a process, reducing data and even speeding up response time.
An API often has three different ways we can optimize it.
Should you send payload in an HTTP GET request?
HTTP defines a set of different request methods. There are request methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and others.
Because it’s allowed doesn’t mean it’s right though.
Implementing Paging in a REST API
When large lists of records are exposed through an API, we need a mechanism to control how many records are returned. In the article, we explore the three main methods of paging.
How to find API gateway URLs
AWS API gateway is a phenomenal service from AWS because it has all of the features somebody could ever want in an API gateway.
Sorting in a REST API
Sorting is determining the order of items when a list of items is returned from a particular endpoint. The best practice is to really keep things simple and consistent.
Date and DateTime Handling in APIs
Application Programming Interfaces and dates are just as difficult.
Timezone issues crop up because dates and datetimes are just strings in JSON, there’s nothing to necessarily say that this is a date in this format.
Is SOAP dead?
SOAP and XML based Web Services aren’t dead yet. I don’t think they will be for quite a while because they are very common in large enterprises (government, banks, telecommunications, etc).