APIs, or application programming interfaces, allow different software systems to communicate. But different types of APIs exist. Each type serves a different purpose. And each type has its own pros, cons, and use cases. This article breaks down the main API categories—open, partner, internal, and composite. We also discuss the types of APIs based on the protocols they use. At the end of this article, you can confidently choose the right one for your needs.

Understanding how to manage and protect an API key is crucial for anyone interacting with web services. This article outlines the process of generating and implementing API keys, along with strategies to secure them against potential threats, ensuring the security of your API key.

Are you building a SaaS application on AWS and wrestling with the complexities of implementing usage-based billing? Moesif and Amazon Web Services(AWS) are working together to make it easy for SaaS architects and developers to implement usage-based billing with the SaaS Builder Toolkit for AWS(SBT-AWS). Moesif is a cloud-based solution for usage-based metering and billing. SBT-AWS is an open-source developer toolkit provided by AWS to implement SaaS best practices.

An application programming interface (API) defines a set of rules and protocols that allow different software entities to communicate with one another. Open or public APIs offer free access to everyone with little or no restrictions. These public APIs allow developers to build innovative solutions and extend existing ones covering a variety of use cases. In this article, we cover some of the best open APIs from different categories.

This guide provides a streamlined approach to the API development process, detailing the essential phases from the initial concept to the realization of a fully operational API. You’ll discover how to plan, design, and implement your own API and ensure it’s reliable and secure. With practical insights and actionable advice, you’ll learn the nuances of API development, from understanding the needs of your users to creating a scalable infrastructure that can handle growth.

API design principles are models for building strong connections in a digital world where APIs bridge gaps between systems. This article strips down the complexity of API design to present you with the tried-and-true principles that ensure functionality, reliability, and ease of use. Learn to lay the foundations of a great API without the guesswork so you can focus on what truly matters: crafting an exceptional tool that seamlessly integrates and scales with technological demands.

Transform your application programming interfaces into dynamic revenue generators—this is the essence of treating ‘API as a product’. This concise guide provides fundamental insights into how APIs transcend their traditional roles to become standalone products, opening new avenues for customer interaction and business growth.

Navigating API development is essential for creating seamless software interactions. This guide strips back the complexity, offering a clear pathway through the intricacies of API creation, from brass-tacks design principles to advanced security and documentation. Among the APIs we’ll explore for their role in simplifying software interactions is the REST API. This model emphasizes functions like GET, PUT, and DELETE to interact with server data efficiently and statelessly.

Things can get tricky when managing pre-paid, pay-as-you-go billing for monetized APIs. Three mechanisms must be in place for this type of billing to work: first, you need to be able to add credits to an account. Second, you need to be able to burn down those credits. Third, you need to be able to block users from accessing the API once they have run out of credits.

Now that we have set up our API, integrated it with Kong, and connected Stripe with Moesif, we have the infrastructure to begin billing for API usage. Now, we will move into configuring Moesif with the pricing, metering, and access control/governance pieces of the API monetization journey. Let’s kick things off by setting up the prices we want to charge for API usage in Moesif.

In today’s subscription-driven economy, flexible billing options are crucial. While traditional post-paid models are widespread, pre-paid credit-based billing is gaining popularity. This approach empowers businesses to bill customers upfront for a set amount of usage, offering an alternative way for customers to pay for your service.

As the wave of AI sweeps through the technology landscape, many have hopped on board. Interestingly enough, and often overlooked, is that many AI capabilities are served through APIs. Fancy user interfaces integrate with the actual mechanisms where the magic happens: the APIs. So, when generating revenue through AI platforms, the APIs drive the revenue.