How API Endpoints Work?
RapidAPI Comic cover: How API endpoints work.
What is an API endpoint? Endpoints are the communication touchpoint between API and server. They are URLs that users interact with to access specific resources. They typically look like this:
Endpoints dictate a resource's location and are where the request is sent. Each endpoint locates a different resource. Image shows a dog being commanded to fetch the resource for dog/snacks/bone and then finding the bone.
Its critical endpoints are named after the entity they represent to avoid ambiguity around naming and errors. Image shows the dog knowing the location of various snacks that are appropriately named, for example, dog/snacks/steak, dog/snacks/chicken, dog/snacks/fish.
If endpoints are inaccurately named, the API will not be able to locate the resource or may find the wrong one. Image shows the dog attempting to locate the fish, but he finds a cat instead.
You can secure endpoints using HTTPS only, input validation, rate-limiting, and one-way password hashing. Image shows the dog wearing an HTTPS collar.