Tuesday, September 23, 2025

What is an API?

An API is a set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications. It serves as an intermediary that allows one software component to communicate with another. The text emphasizes that APIs are crucial for automation and control, allowing developers to manage hardware and applications with code.

Examples of API Use

The text provides several real-world examples to illustrate how pervasive APIs are:

  • A fitness tracker sending jogging data to a website.

  • A mobile app remotely unlocking a car.

  • Remotely changing the temperature of a smart thermostat.

API Security

The text highlights the critical importance of API security. Because APIs expose functionality to external parties, including developers and partners, they present a significant security challenge. If not properly secured, APIs can become a vulnerability, allowing attackers to influence the messages being passed between systems.

Key security considerations include:

  • Protecting the entire digital value chain, from applications and APIs to back-end services.

  • Implementing a comprehensive security framework that protects both company systems and user data.

The Role of Data Governance

The text identifies data governance as an overarching framework for managing API security. Data governance provides the structured and controlled environment needed for the development and deployment of APIs, ensuring that data is protected throughout its entire lifecycle, from the very beginning of a system's design.

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