Thanks to APIs, customers or users of a website can access different functions and information from one user interface. Think of an e-commerce platform from your favorite company.
You should be able to browse for products, add specific items to your shopping cart, and checkout from the same platform. And even if you’d have to use an external website such as PayPal, you can still do that from the original e-commerce platform. All of this is made possible by APIs.
That’s where our interest in API management platforms comes in.
So, what’s an API management platform?
In very basic terms, an API management platform is a set of tools that helps developers with the processes of designing, building, testing, deploying, and monitoring APIs. By using an API management platform, developers can save time and resources while still ensuring that their APIs are secure and high-quality.
As one of the leading API management platforms, Tyk provides users with everything they need to ensure the proper functioning and availability of their APIs.
What are the main components of API management?
An API management platform typically includes the following components:
1. API gateway
This is actually the most important component that any API management solution should have. That’s in consideration that this is the component that manages traffic to and from your API. It can perform tasks such as rate-limiting, authentication, and monitoring.
API gateways ensure the security of API connections through features such as authentication as well as enforcing protocols such as Transport Layer Security, commonly known as TLS.
2. API lifecycle management
This component is what you rely on to manage the API lifecycle. The lifecycle of an API includes everything from its creation, to its publication, up till its retirement.
With proper API lifecycle management, you can track the progress of your APIs and ensure that they are always up-to-date. You can also use this component to monitor the performance of your APIs and identify any potential issues.
3. API reporting and analytics
Another very important component of API management is reporting and analytics. This is what provides you with insights into how your API is performing. It can also help you track down errors and diagnose problems.
You can access a variety of informative dashboards that provide you with data on things like API usage, response times, and error rates. This data can be very helpful in troubleshooting and optimizing your API.
4. API developer portal
This is the portal where developers can find all the resources they need to work with your API. This includes documentation, code samples, and other tools that might be helpful. A good developer portal should be self-service and easy to use.
Such portals enhance communication between teams and testing of APIs, all of which lead to better overall quality. Moreover, a developer portal can also be a great way to promote your API and make it easier for developers to find and use it.
There you go,
A basic overview of API management platforms and their components. Now that you know what they are and what they do, you can start looking into which one might be the best fit for your needs.
As an open-source management platform, Tyk is a great option for those who want full control over their API. It’s also very easy to use and get started with. So why not give it a try?
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