Over the years, software integration has grown rapidly. Now, we no longer need to go into the library to link code to update the version, so that the software can be enjoyed better. With new languages, integration can be done much easier. At the same time, API monitoring is also becoming increasingly important.
As economic conditions force companies to find better ways to work with APIs, but at a lower cost, more advanced methods are needed. Find common API integration problems complete with how to avoid them below!
- Importance of Interface Details
One of the issues that can compromise the integrity of an API is the interface. This is the part of API development that can be considered the most important component to understand. IT teams should study its structure. Strong documentation or sandbox testing can help uncover potential issues before engineers start coding.
For example, consider integrating with a payment gateway for credit card transactions. If the API accepts cash payments, examine how the acceptance interface looks. For example, how the payment amount and characters are written (is it S1.23 or USD 1.23).
If it is done in a way that the company’s system tracks transactions, then the integration will be easier. A simpler interface that fits the company’s structure is usually preferred. Therefore, make sure to choose an API that is compatible with the company, but it is also important to think about the latest version.
- API Key Management
Most APIs include some form of authentication. One common example is having an authentication token in the HTTP header or even part of the URL request. While most APIs make authentication simple, companies need to consider how keys will be managed. An important consideration is how often keys change.
Some APIs have keys that change per package or per purchase, while others have a single key that grants access to one or more services at once. If the key has an expiration date, it must be tracked or tracked with a monitor to alert you as it approaches expiration.
Once an API key changes, it’s relatively easy to adjust, but if multiple departments in your company are calling the same service with the same key, it can be difficult to track where the call originated. Therefore, a centralized API key management solution may be needed for all clients from all departments using the same key.
Conversely, different departments may need to be billed separately for API usage. Your company may need to code the same interface. This is where your company needs keys that can be managed independently by department.
- Scale
While many API-based services are hosted on highly scalable cloud platforms, their implementations can still present issues that require further attention. Rate limiting by API providers is a common way to avoid overloading their services. However, it also has a significant impact on the ability to handle spikes in API traffic.
For example, if a company has a web-based lead generation form, someone might perform address standardization or various identity validation checks on the submitted information. However, if there is a limit to the number of checks that can be performed per second, the API might start to throttle responses during traffic spikes. As a result, the response time can slow down.
Typically, there are several factors that come into play, namely CPU, memory, and disk. For example, on an email host, if the scale is not very large, the response time will be very slow. Each query will take tens of seconds to complete. The way to deal with this is to not apply a rate limit so that there is no bottleneck.
- Outdated, Transitions, and Deletions
Just like regular software, APIs change periodically. Most API developers value compatibility and generally do not change the interface. Generally, business situations change, and better, faster, and cheaper competitive solutions emerge and this is a good time for companies to move on!
Sometimes a simple change can wreak havoc on a well-established data workflow. For example, a new element may be needed or an element that is currently needed suddenly disappears. At times like this, understanding how data flows through an application will be key to a smooth integration.
A successful transition requires studying interface compatibility, data migration, and creating a solid test plan. Sometimes, tests from an old API are no longer valid, and a new API may require a new set of tests, so working backward from test cases can help guide a successful transition.
- Testing and Logging
While most developers focus on functionality, error handling, and performance, there are some real-time considerations that are often overlooked. Many APIs offer a sandbox, where developers can test to make sure their integration is working correctly, but once they get to production, logging responses can help catch errors or spontaneous conditions that weren’t present in the sandbox.
This basic form of logging allows companies to step back and see what was requested and what was returned at the time it happened. Services that occasionally return bad responses or unhandled errors can be difficult to track down. But log files can help simplify it to understand what happened then versus what the API might return now.
In some situations, it can also be useful to replay the entire log file to validate the output of many API calls. For example, if there are calls per page over the course of an entire user session. Additionally, caching can also present challenges in testing. So be careful to avoid using cached responses from external APIs when running API test suites.
When caching, think about how error responses are handled. For example, error cases may need to be tested more or less frequently, and whether these tests result in charges that can shape a company’s API testing strategy.
The overall benefits of using web-based APIs are increasing, offering companies increased functionality, flexibility, and time and cost savings. Smoothly integrate APIs by using a reliable API monitoring service, such as Netmonk.
With its flagship product, Netmonk Prime, Netmonk offers web/API monitoring, network monitoring, and server monitoring in one application. The reports are presented in an easy-to-understand manner, so that its services have been used by more than 15 companies in Indonesia. So, just visit the Netmonk website for more info!
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