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An Overview of API

If you are a business owner or from the tech industry, you must have heard of the term ‘API.’ Today, the Application Programming Interface or API plays a huge economic role. Now API is everywhere, from online ticket booking and social media applications to making payments from P2P apps like PayPal. Besides this, fun APIs also help translate English to other languages like Minion, Klingon, and Dothraki

APIs are also integrated during gaming app development. Even the most popular game app like PokemonGo, has API integration that provides you with all the data in one place. As a result, the demand for API development has increased significantly. So, if you want to know how to develop an API, this guide is useful. Let’s read!

What Is API?

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API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of protocols, tools, and standards that permits a piece of software or app to use the functions or features of another program, platform, or gadget to provide better services. An API development process acts as an intermediary between two or more software applications, allowing them to communicate and share data with each other.

With the help of API development, we can now easily connect our social media account (Facebook) with Games (Candy Crush Saga). API automatically accesses the data from our social media account and help us play games. It means enabling API profits in both social media app development and gaming app development.

APIs can be used in a variety of ways, such as –

  • Integrate Two Or More Software Applications

    APIs allow different software applications to communicate with each other, enabling them to share data and functionality. It can be useful for creating new applications or enhancing existing ones.

  • Access Third-Party Services

    APIs can access services provided by third-party providers, such as social media platforms or payment gateways. It allows developers to build applications that can interact with these services.

  • Automate Tasks

    APIs can automate tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention, such as updating data or generating reports.

How Does API Work?

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Here’s how the process of API works –

  • APIs work by defining a set of rules and protocols for how different software applications should interact with each other.

  • When an application needs to access data or functionality provided by another application, it sends a request to the API using a specific format and structure.

  • The API then processes the request, retrieves the requested data or performs the requested function, and responds to the requesting application. The response is typically in a structured format, such as JSON or XML that can be easily parsed and processed by the requesting application.

  • APIs typically use a combination of HTTP methods (such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE) and endpoints to define how requests and responses are structured.

  • APIs also use authentication and authorization mechanisms to control access to data and functionality, ensuring that only authorized applications and users can access sensitive information.


Mobile app developers can use APIs to build new applications, integrate existing applications with other software systems, and automate tasks. By providing a standardized way for applications to communicate, APIs can help improve efficiency, reduce development time, and create new opportunities for innovation.

Key Terminologies for API Development

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Here are some of the key terminologies used in API mobile app development:

  • Endpoint

    An endpoint is a specific URL that corresponds to a specific functionality provided by the API.

  • HTTP Methods

    HTTP methods are used to define the type of action being requested by the API client. Common HTTP methods include –

    a) GET - Request method to retrieve information from a server.

    b) POST – Request method to submit data to a server.

    c) PUT – Request method to update or replace an existing resource on the server.

    d) DELETE – Request that a resource is removed from the server.

  • Parameters

    Parameters are pieces of data passed to the API along with a request. Parameters can filter, sort, or modify the data returned by the API.

  • Response

    A response is the data returned by the API in response to a client request. Responses are typically formatted using JSON or XML and contain the requested data and relevant metadata.

  • Authentication

    Authentication verifies the user's identity or application requesting the API. It uses various authentication mechanisms, such as API keys or JSON Web Tokens, to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data or functionality.

  • Rate Limiting

    Rate limiting restricts the number of requests that can be made to an API within a specific period. Rate limiting can help prevent abuse of the API and ensure that it remains available to all users.

  • SDKs

    Software Development Kits (SDKs) are pre-built libraries that provide developers with tools and resources for integrating with an API. SDKs can help to simplify the integration process and speed up development time.

Key Features of API Development

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Including the best features improves the application’s performance. Here are the key features of API development.

  • Functionality

    The primary goal of an API is to provide specific functionality to other applications, allowing them to access and use the features and data provided by the API.

  • Usability

    An API should be easy to use and understand. Clear documentation, well-defined endpoints, and consistent response formats are all important factors in making an API easy to use.

  • Security

    Security is a critical aspect of API development. APIs should protect against unauthorized access and malicious attacks with authentication and authorization protocols, rate limiting, and input validation measures.

  • Scalability

    APIs should be designed to be scalable, meaning they can handle increasing amounts of traffic as the number of users or requests grows.

  • Flexibility

    APIs should be flexible enough to accommodate changes in the underlying data structures, application logic, and other factors that may evolve.

  • Performance

    APIs should be designed for optimal performance, with fast response times, minimal latency, and efficient data transfer.

  • Interoperability

    APIs should be designed to work seamlessly with other applications, including those built on different platforms or using different programming languages. It may require adherence to industry standards and protocols.

  • Monitoring and Analytics

    APIs should include built-in monitoring and analytics capabilities to help developers track usage patterns, identify errors and performance bottlenecks, and optimize performance over time.

How to Develop An API? Best Practices!

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Building an API can be a complex task, and many factors must be considered when creating a secure, efficient, and user-friendly environment. Here are some best practices to keep in mind when building an API as mentioned by the on-demand app development company professionals:

  • Step 1 - Follow RESTful Principles

    REST is a software architectural style defining a set of constraints for creating web services. RESTful APIs should be designed around resources identified by unique URIs and use standard HTTP methods to manipulate these resources.

  • Step 2 - Use HTTPS

    Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure is an encrypted version of HTTP that provides security and privacy for your API. All API calls should be made over HTTPS to protect sensitive data.

  • Step 3 - Implement Authentication & Authorization

    APIs should have a way to authenticate and authorize users to access specific resources. Common authentication methods include API keys, OAuth2, and JSON Web Tokens.

  • Step 4 - Document Your API

    API documentation is crucial for developers who want to use your API. Your documentation should provide clear instructions on using your API, including endpoints, request parameters, and response formats.

  • Step 5 - Use Versioning

    As your API evolves, you should use versioning to ensure that changes don't break existing clients. Additionally, versioning allows developers to continue using the old version of your API while they update their code to work with the new version.

  • Step 6 - Handle Errors Gracefully

    The API should provide informative error messages when something goes wrong. Error messages should be clear and concise and provide enough information for developers to troubleshoot the issue.

  • Step 7 - Optimize for Performance

    It should be designed for optimal performance. It includes minimizing the requests required to complete a task, minimizing the amount of data transferred between the client and the server, and caching data where appropriate.

  • Step 8 - Use consistent Naming Conventions

    Consistent naming conventions make your API easier to understand and use. For example, use descriptive names for resources, endpoints, and parameters and standard HTTP status codes to indicate the status of a request.

  • Step 9 - Test Your API

    Thoroughly testing your API before releasing it to the public is crucial for ensuring it works as expected. Use automated testing tools to test different scenarios, and have real users test your API to identify any issues that may arise.


    By following these best API development process, you can create a secure, efficient, and user-friendly API, making it easier for developers to use and integrate into their applications.

Popular Tools Used During API Development

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There are various API development tools and frameworks available. The choice of tools depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project. Here are some of the popular tools for API development. So, even if you hire dedicated developers for your project, make sure they are well-versed with the following tools.

  • Swagger

    Swagger is an open-source tool that helps developers design, document, and test RESTful APIs. It provides an interactive UI for API testing, documentation, and code generation.

  • Postman

    Postman is a popular tool for API development that enables developers to test, design, and document APIs. It provides a user-friendly interface for building and testing RESTful APIs.

  • Node.js

    Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment allowing developers to build fast, scalable, high-performance APIs. It provides an extensive set of libraries and modules for API development.

  • Django

    Django is a popular Python web framework that provides built-in support for API development. It provides an easy-to-use ORM, built-in authentication and authorization, and serialization support.

  • Express.js

    Express.js is a popular Node.js framework that provides a simple and flexible approach to building APIs. It offers robust features for handling HTTP requests, middleware support, and route handling.

  • Flask

    Flask is a popular Python web development framework with a lightweight and flexible approach to building APIs. It offers a simple yet powerful API for building RESTful APIs, built-in support for database integration, and authentication and authorization.

  • AWS API Gateway

    AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service that makes it easy to create, publish, and manage APIs at scale. In addition, it offers features such as API throttling, caching, and security, making it a popular choice for building APIs on the AWS cloud platform.

How Much Does It Cost to Build An API?

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On average, developing a basic API costs around $8000 - $13000 and more. But, if you want to include the advanced features, functionalities, tech stacks, and more during API development, you will have to pay more cost. Besides this, the mobile app developer you hire will also determine the cost of API, as different professionals charge differently as per their experience and location. Some of the major factors that might increase or decrease your API cost are –

  • Research

  • Prototype

  • Preparing Database

  • Documentation

  • Marketing

  • Maintenance & support

How Dev Technosys Can Help You with API Development?

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Established in 2010, Dev Technosys has marked its presence as the top mobile app and web development company. We work as a strong team to deliver growth-driven business solutions. Every developer is dedicated to satisfying business needs and delivering an error-free project. So, whether you are planning for API development or any other, we can do it all.

Bring your project requirements to us, and we will deliver a perfectly developed project within the promised deadline. Schedule a free consultation now!

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