Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) Skill Overview
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- Category: Technical > API
Description
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are sets of rules and protocols that allow different software applications to communicate with each other. They define the methods and data formats that a program can use to request services from an operating system, another application, or other services. APIs are used in various types of programming, from web development to mobile app creation. They enable developers to leverage existing functionalities of other software, saving time and resources. Proficiency in APIs involves understanding their purpose, types, and how to use them in different programming languages, as well as designing, building, securing, optimizing, and testing APIs.
Stack
JAM,
Expected Behaviors
Micro Skills
Recognizing the acronym API stands for Application Programming Interface
Identifying the role of APIs in software development
Understanding the basic concept of how APIs work
Identifying the use of APIs in data sharing between applications
Understanding how APIs enable software integration
Recognizing how APIs facilitate third-party development
Distinguishing between REST and SOAP APIs
Recognizing other types of APIs like GraphQL
Understanding the basic differences between these types of APIs
Understanding the purpose of the GET method
Understanding the purpose of the POST method
Understanding the purpose of the PUT method
Understanding the purpose of the DELETE method
Understanding how to use libraries or modules for API interaction
Knowing how to make API requests in specific languages
Parsing API responses in specific languages
Identifying key components of API documentation
Understanding how to read and interpret API documentation
Applying information from API documentation to practical use
Recognizing common API error codes
Implementing basic error catching and handling mechanisms
Understanding the implications of different error responses
Understanding the structure of JSON and XML data
Parsing JSON and XML data in specific languages
Converting between JSON and XML data formats
Identifying the structure of API endpoints
Understanding the purpose of different endpoint types
Knowing how to interact with various endpoints
Understanding the concept of pagination
Implementing basic pagination using limit and offset
Implementing advanced pagination techniques like cursor-based pagination
Understanding the difference between authentication and authorization
Implementing basic authentication methods like Basic Auth
Implementing token-based authentication methods like Bearer Token
Implementing OAuth for third-party authentication
Understanding the need for rate limiting
Implementing basic rate limiting
Implementing advanced rate limiting techniques like leaky bucket and token bucket
Understanding the purpose of headers and parameters in API requests
Adding custom headers to API requests
Adding query parameters to API requests
Understanding common HTTP headers like Content-Type, Accept, Authorization
Understanding common API error codes
Using tools like Postman for debugging
Reading and understanding API error responses
Troubleshooting common issues like CORS errors, 404 errors, 500 errors
Understanding REST principles
Creating API endpoints
Defining resources in the API
Implementing CRUD operations
Designing intuitive and predictable APIs
Understanding the benefits of caching
Using HTTP headers for caching (ETag, Cache-Control)
Implementing server-side caching
Implementing client-side caching
Understanding different authentication protocols
Implementing OAuth2.0
Implementing JWT tokens
Securing API keys
Implementing role-based access control
Monitoring API performance
Identifying bottlenecks in API performance
Implementing rate limiting
Optimizing database queries
Load balancing
Understanding the need for versioning
Implementing URL versioning
Implementing header versioning
Managing deprecated API versions
Communicating changes to API users
Designing scalable API architectures
Understanding and implementing microservices architecture
Implementing API gateways
Managing API dependencies
Handling data consistency across multiple APIs
Managing API integration testing
Implementing error handling for API integrations
Optimizing performance of integrated APIs
Designing comprehensive error reporting systems
Implementing custom error codes and messages
Handling API exceptions at different levels
Logging and monitoring API errors
Implementing advanced authentication methods (OAuth2, OpenID Connect)
Securing API endpoints with encryption
Implementing intrusion detection systems for APIs
Conducting regular API security audits
Writing comprehensive API test cases
Implementing continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) for APIs
Automating API documentation
Performance testing of APIs
Tech Experts
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