An API is a way for different software systems to communicate with each other. In web applications, the frontend usually sends requests to the backend API, and the backend returns data or performs an action.
Common API actions include listing records, creating new data, updating existing data, deleting data, logging in, uploading files, and searching or filtering content. REST APIs often use HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE.
A well-designed API should have clear endpoints, consistent response formats, proper validation, secure authentication, and useful error messages. This helps frontend developers integrate with the backend more easily.
When building APIs, developers should also consider pagination, filtering, rate limiting, authorization, and documentation. These details make APIs more reliable and easier to maintain.
