Prerequisites for Skill
A person should have these skills to be a good API Programmer:
- First of All, Knowledge of "What is an API"?
- Knowledge of at-least one server-side programming language and beginner level proficiency in coding
- Knowledge of frameworks and libraries supported by that programming language for writing API's
- What are HTTP Request, Response?
- What is the format of Request and Response?
- Types of Request with Example
- Types of Response
Status Code
- 100-199: Informational Responses
- 200-299: Successful Responses
- 300-399: Redirects
- 400-499: Client Errors
- 500-599: Server Errors
- Types of API
- REST: Representational State Transfer
Complete Example
REST provides a set of Rules that developers follow to create an API. Characteristics of REST:
- It is like a Post-Card; lightweight and fast
- Stateless Communications Protocol
- Structures data in XML, YAML, JSON format
- Data Driven
- Uses WADL: Web Application Description Language
- SOAP: Simple Object Access Protocol Complete Example
Characteristics of SOAP:
- It is like an Envelope; the request is wrapped by an XML root element
- Can be sent over any protocol, for example: HTTP, TCP, SMTP
- SOAP message must be XML-formatted and contains Header and Body
- Strongly Function Driven
- Uses WSDL: Web Service Description Language; a contract between the provider and consumer. A signature of web service.
- Difference SOAP vs REST API Explained
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Knowledge of Multi-Threading: To be able to perform asynchronous operations,
for example: API's causing side-effects i.e. Database Operations, an API call to another service.