Is API gateway the same as API management?

Byjessica wilson

Over the years, businesses have adopted API systems for generating revenue and expediting requests. As a business or developer team, you need to get serious about your API and take advantage of this explosion. If you think about implementing API into your business, you must understand what API gateway and API management entail. Once you know where they fall, you will know what tools to use.

API Management 

API management is a combination of processes and tools used to control APIs. API management involves complex components that are vital for distinguishing the various processes within the management system.

API management, therefore, aims to expedite the requirements effectively and efficiently for the API to be successful. All APIs have different aspects to focus on, where some may focus more on monetization than an API portal.

API management tools 

API Design 

APIs use rests architecture just for most designing functions. SOAP APIs were widely used before RESTful architecture was developed. Users, developers, and managers get information from API designs about;

  • The possibilities of the API functioning
  • How the API should be utilized and what it does
  • And how to scale the API

The design includes other features like authorization, versioning, and supported data formats, including XML and JSON.

API Gateway

API management uses gateway as a tool for differentiating processes. Client requests enter through the gateways where they are routed. Gateways can take requests, formulate results and perform authentication.

API Analytics

The API usually collects its data when it is in use. Useful analytics include requests, location, response object sizes, dates, HTTP status code, and endpoint.

API Lifecycle Management

APIs, too, have a lifecycle starting from conceptualization to monetization. There are plenty of steps like design development, testing, and analysis. In the end, the size of steps increases as the API ages.

API portal

Developers and supervisors can see aspects of their API such as policies, usage, requirements, endpoint definitions, and managing access.

API Security

Some information on the API should be confidential, depending on the user. API security policies guide the API on handling authentication and authorization of API resources.

What is an API Gateway?

An API gateway is a server, application, or resource acting as a proxy for API resources. The API gateway handles controlling, facilitating, and managing incoming traffic. It simplifies authorization processes, rate limiting, and result aggregating. Examine the components of the API gateway

Security

Initially, all services were channeled to a single application that was set up for all the resources. Later, another app or client wants the service, and your team adds new application credentials to the existing APIs. If a third or fourth app needs access, your credentials and access need to be leveled.

Take note of the services that need access to the newly added services.

Logging and analytical tools

Redundant tasks have to be repeated following the steps from the previous service analytics. Additionally, include error logging for every new service to figure out the problematic server.

API Gateway Solution

An effective API gateway should assist with authentication, analytics, and logging. You can, therefore;

  • Use a single server to receive client requests.
  • Use one access point to authenticate client access.
  • Switch out, add or remove API as service providers.

Aggregate logging and analytics of all resources

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