API Implementation Patterns
Common patterns for effective API implementation:
Backend for Frontend (BFF):
- Channel-specific API facades
- Optimized for specific clients
- Aggregation and transformation
- Client-specific error handling
- Reduced network overhead
- Improved frontend developer experience
Example BFF Architecture:
┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ Web Client │ │ Mobile App │ │ Partner App │
│ │ │ │ │ │
└───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ Web BFF │ │ Mobile BFF │ │ Partner BFF │
│ │ │ │ │ │
└───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘ └───────┬───────┘
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ Core APIs │
│ │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Customer │ │ Order │ │ Product │ │
│ │ API │ │ API │ │ API │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
API Gateway Pattern:
- Centralized entry point
- Request routing
- Protocol translation
- Authentication and authorization
- Rate limiting and throttling
- Monitoring and analytics
- Caching
API Versioning Strategies:
- URI path versioning (/v1/customers)
- Query parameter versioning (?version=1)
- Header-based versioning (Accept-Version: 1)
- Content negotiation (Accept: application/vnd.example.v1+json)
- Hypermedia-driven versioning
API Governance and Management
API Lifecycle Management
Managing APIs from design to retirement:
API Lifecycle Stages:
- Planning and strategy
- Design and specification
- Development and testing
- Deployment and publication
- Monitoring and analytics
- Versioning and evolution
- Deprecation and retirement
Example API Lifecycle Workflow:
┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ Plan │────▶│ Design │────▶│ Develop │
│ │ │ │ │ │
└───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘
│
▼
┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
│ Retire │◀────│ Manage │◀────│ Deploy │
│ │ │ │ │ │
└───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘
API Governance Framework:
- Design standards and guidelines
- Review and approval processes
- Security and compliance requirements
- Performance standards
- Documentation requirements
- Versioning policies
- Deprecation policies
Example API Governance Checklist:
Design Review:
□ Follows API design standards
□ Properly documented with examples
□ Includes appropriate error responses
□ Uses consistent naming conventions
□ Follows versioning strategy
□ Includes appropriate pagination
□ Security requirements addressed
Security Review:
□ Authentication mechanism appropriate
□ Authorization controls implemented
□ Input validation implemented
□ Rate limiting configured
□ Sensitive data properly handled
□ Security headers configured
□ CORS properly configured
API Management Platforms
Tools for managing the API lifecycle:
API Management Capabilities:
- Developer portal
- API gateway
- Analytics and monitoring
- Documentation
- Testing and mocking
- Lifecycle management
- Security and access control
Popular API Management Platforms:
- Apigee
- Kong
- MuleSoft
- AWS API Gateway
- Azure API Management
- Tyk
- 3scale
Example API Portal Features:
Developer Portal Components:
- API catalog and documentation
- Interactive API console
- Authentication and access management
- Application registration
- API key management
- Usage analytics and reporting
- Support and community forums
- Billing and subscription management