Have you ever wondered how weather apps tell you the weather conditions in real-time, ticket booking apps show the empty seats of theaters, or sports apps show the live scores?
All these are possible because of API. API is integrated into mobile apps or software that communicate with other apps and software and provide you with the data you are requesting or enabling a functionality. Curious to know about them in detail? Then stick to this blog.
In this blog, we have explained what the APIs are, how they work, how you can develop an API, its development costs, and the top trends in API development that you must know. So, without further delay, let’s start with the introduction to API.
What is an API?
API stands for application programming interface. You must have heard this word a lot when talking to mobile app developers or discussing mobile app development. APIs are the interfaces that work as a bridge between apps or software to share data or roll out a specific functionality seamlessly.
For example, APIs allow mobile apps to perform tasks like processing online payments or fetching restaurant menus from external systems for food delivery. Without APIs, it would be highly complex and inefficient to achieve such functionalities.
How Does an API Work?
To make you understand better, we have simplified the process of how APIs in mobile apps work. With this, you can easily understand their role. So, here is how API works.
1. Request from a Client
The “client” or the app or software, requests any information. Let’s say, you requested the current weather details in the weather app. This request (weather information) goes to the API in a predefined format.
2. API Processes the Request
After receiving the request, the API (application programming interface) processes it and sends it to the server.
Before sending it forward, API follows rules (called endpoints) to ensure that requests are structured correctly so that the system receiving them knows how to handle them.
3. Server Receives the Request
The server gets the request from the API. The former then processes the request and retrieves the data (real-time weather conditions).
4. Server Sends a Response
The server returns the retrieved data (real-time weather information) to the API. Before sending the data back, the requested data is formatted in a way the API understands.
5. API Sends the Response to the Client
At last, API takes the server’s response and sends it back to the client (the app or software that made the request). And then, the client uses this data to display information (the weather conditions).
This same process applies to other app functionalities, such as making online payments.
Types of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
Now that you have learned about what APIs are and how they work, let’s understand the types of APIs. The types of APIs are based on their access levels and functionalities.
Based on Access Levels
1. Public APIs (Open APIs)
Public APIs are types of APIs that are accessible to anyone who can use them to integrate with a platform or service. Also known as Open APIs, these enable mobile app developers to build applications or services and allow them to communicate with the API provider’s systems to share data or functionalities seamlessly.
Example: OpenWeather API, Twitter API
2. Partner APIs
Partner APIs are types of APIs that are restricted, and only to be used by authorized business partners. Not everyone can use these APIs to build applications. You need special permission or credentials to leverage Partner APIs for data sharing. Partner APIs ensure that data exchange remains controlled and reliable, supporting specific use cases while maintaining privacy and security.
Example: PayPal’s APIs
3. Internal APIs
Internal APIs are types of APIs that are developed particularly for use within an organization. These APIs enable different teams or systems in a business to communicate and share data seamlessly. Internal APIs play crucial roles in improving efficiency and streamlining business processes. Moreover, these APIs are not exposed to external developers, hence, they provide high security and control over sensitive information.
Example: A company’s API connecting its HR software to payroll systems.
4. Composite APIs
Composite APIs combine various APIs into a single request, enabling systems to request data or functionality from various sources simultaneously. These APIs allow businesses to streamline workflows by reducing the number of API calls required to complete a task.
Composite APIs fit well in complex processes that require data from different services, this is why they have become essential tools in modern app development.
Example: A travel app composite API fetching flight, hotel, and car rental information simultaneously.
Based on Functionalities
1. RESTful APIs (Representational State Transfer)
RESTful APIs, also known as Representational State Transfer, are web APIs that use standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE for communication. These APIs are popularly used because of their simplicity, scalability, and compatibility with web systems for data exchange and interaction.
Example: Google Maps API and Stripe API
2. SOAP APIs (Simple Object Access Protocol)
Simple Object Access Protocol, also known as SOAP, APIs are a type of application programming interface, that uses XML for messaging and communication. These APIs are secure, reliable, and ensure strict standards, hence, they are mostly used in industries like banking and healthcare. SOAP APIs support complex processes, and are platform-independent.
Example: APIs in banking and finance industries.
3. GraphQL APIs
GraphQL APIs are the type of APIs that allow clients to request precise data that they want. These APIs largely reduce over-fetching or under-fetching. Moreover, GraphQL APIs allow clients to query multiple resources in one request, using a single endpoint. These APIs are ideal for dynamic apps that enable faster performance and tailored responses.
Example: GitHub API
4. Webhooks
Webhooks are types of APIs that send real-time updates when specific events occur. Instead of clients polling for updates, the server pushes data to a pre-configured URL. For example, a webhook can notify a payment app of a successful transaction, enabling immediate action without delay, and making it efficient and resource-saving.
Example: Stripe Webhooks for payment updates
Step-by-Step Process to Develop a Custom API
By following this process, you can develop a custom API tailored to your specific business needs.
1. Define the Purpose
The first step to API development is defining the purpose. You must start by clearly defining what the API will achieve, the problems it will solve, the target user base, and the special functionalities that will make it stand out. Determining all these details beforehand makes the further API development process easy.
2. Plan API Architecture
Once your purpose is determined, start planning the APIs’ structure and endpoints. Outline a clear plan that shows how data will flow and how the client will interact with it. To do this, you will need to choose the right architecture style that perfectly aligns with your project requirements and user base.
3. Develop API Endpoints
In this stage of the API development process, you have to build the individual endpoints that the API will expose, ensuring they follow RESTful conventions or another design pattern. Each endpoint that you will develop must be able to handle specific requests and return the appropriate responses.
4. Implement Authentication & Authorization
You also have to secure your APIs from unauthorized access or hacking. Hence, you need to implement authentication protocols, such as OAuth or API keys. By integrating these security measures into your API development, you allow only authorized users to access certain resources. Also, these measures will protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of the system.
5. Test the API
Conduct rigorous testing to ensure that the API that you have developed is functionally effective and as per the expectations. You also need to check its perforation and scalability under different conditions. For this, you can leverage unit testing, integration testing, and load testing. At last, identify and fix the bugs and glitches that you find during the testing stages.
6. Document the API
Documenting the API, how it is developed, how it is working, etc., is very necessary as it helps developers who interact with your API understand it effectively. Also, these API documentation must have in-depth API-related details, such as request/response formats, authentication methods, and error handling.
7. Deploy the API
After the testing and documentation, you can deploy the API to a production environment. But remember, the job doesn’t finish here. You need to monitor the API frequently after the deployment to identify and resolve the issues that may arise during its usage in the real world.
8. API Maintenance
Regular API maintenance is necessary to keep it functioning and relevant for a long time. The maintenance of API includes bug fixes, new feature updates, improvements in security measures, and more. With regular maintenance, the API will keep on functioning seamlessly, and deliver expected user experiences for a long time.
Technology Stack Required to Develop a Custom API
Here is a recommended technology stack that you can use to build a custom application programming interface (API).
| Component | Tech Stack |
|---|---|
| Programming Language | JavaScript (Node.js), Python, Ruby, Java, Go, PHP |
| Framework | Express.js (Node.js), Django (Python), Spring Boot (Java) |
| API Architecture | REST, GraphQL, SOAP |
| Database | MongoDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite |
| Authentication | OAuth, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), API Keys |
| Web Server | Nginx, Apache, Node.js (for lightweight API) |
| Data Format | JSON, XML |
| Version Control | Git, GitHub, GitLab |
| Testing Framework | Mocha, Jasmine, JUnit, Postman |
| Deployment Platform | AWS, Google Cloud, Heroku, Microsoft Azure, Docker |
| Monitoring Tools | Prometheus, Grafana, New Relic |
| CI/CD Tools | Jenkins, Travis CI, GitHub Actions |
Please note that this is for recommendation purposes only. You can use other tools and technologies for custom API development.
How Much Does It Costs to Develop an API?
It is actually quite difficult to give an exact cost of developing a custom API. API development costs depend on various factors, such as:
- Complexity of the API
- Architecture and type of the API
- Tech Stack required to develop it
- Functionality of the API
- Security measures
- Development team involved
- Maintenance and upgradation costs, and more.
Hence, to know the exact development costs for the API development, you need to take these factors into consideration and then calculate accordingly.
To give you a rough idea, the estimated API development costs look as follows:
- Simple API: $5,000 to $20,000, or more
- Moderately Complex API: $20,000 to $45,000, or more
- Complex API: $40,000 to $100,000, or more
These are only estimated amounts. The exact costs are determined after considering all the necessary factors that are mentioned above.
Top Trends in API Development
The following are some top trends related to API development that developers and businesses are embracing, alike.
1. Serverless Architecture
Serverless architecture is one of the top trends that have been embraced by businesses and developers. In this, developers write code in the form of small functions, and the cloud provider automatically handles the infrastructure.
As a result, there is no need for managing servers. Also, serverless architecture is also a cost-efficient option, you only need to pay for the computing power that is used during the execution.
2. API-as-a-Product
Many businesses are shifting toward the API-as-a-Product trend. In this, APIs are seen as standalone products that have their own lifecycle management, customer support, and user experience (UX) considerations.
Businesses are investing in API-as-a-Product development with the goal of providing accessible APIs that third-party users and developers can use, and the API owners can monetize it to generate revenue.
3. Microservices Architecture
In a microservices architecture, large monolithic applications are broken down into smaller and independent services. Each service is responsible for a specific function.
APIs are essential in this approach as they allow these microservices to communicate and interact with one another. Each microservice exposes its own API, which can be independently developed, deployed, and scaled.
With microservices architecture in API development, businesses can develop and release features more quickly and efficiently. Also, it allows them to maintain flexibility and reliability in their systems.
Conclusion
So, this was your step-by-step guide to API development. In this blog, we explained what are APIs, how they work, their types, and a comprehensive development process, that you can use to build a custom API for your specific requirements.
We have also explored the tech stack along with the API development costs and the top trends for developing APIs. This is the ideal guide to help you develop your custom API. Moreover, if you need professional assistance, feel free to reach out to Developer Bazaar Technologies, the top mobile app development company.
Over the last 8+ years, we have developed and deployed numerous application programming interfaces (APIs) for businesses and startups in various industry verticals.
FAQs
The following are some of the frequently asked questions related to API development.
Q1. What is an API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and protocols leveraging which different software and apps communicate and share data with each other.
Q2. Why are APIs important for businesses?
APIs are information for businesses because the former helps the latter with integrating other services within their applications and expanding their offerings. Businesses do not need to create a new service from scratch, thanks to APIs.
Q3. How long does it take to develop a custom API?
It takes around 2-5 months to develop a custom application programming interface (API). However, the exact time will depend on the complexity and the development team.
Q4. How can I contact Developer Bazaar Technologies for API development?
Click here and fill out the form and we will get back to you at the earliest.
RM Mishra
Co-Founder
Developer Bazaar technologies
