Interview

20 API Management Interview Questions and Answers

Prepare for the types of questions you are likely to be asked when interviewing for a position where API Management will be used.

API Management is the process of creating and publishing APIs, enforcing security and access control, managing traffic, and analyzing usage and performance. As the number of APIs continues to grow, so does the demand for API Management tools and solutions. When interviewing for a position that involves API Management, be prepared to answer questions about your experience and knowledge. This article will review some common API Management interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

API Management Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked API Management interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is an API?

An API is an application programming interface. This is a set of rules and protocols that allow software programs to communicate with each other. APIs are used when programming graphical user interface components, accessing databases, and for other tasks.

2. Can you give me some examples of APIs that are already in use today?

Some examples of popular APIs that are currently in use include the Google Maps API, the Facebook API, and the Twitter API.

3. How does a RESTful API differ from other types of APIs?

RESTful APIs are designed to be easy to use, and they are based on the HTTP protocol. This means that they can be used with any programming language that can send and receive HTTP requests. Other types of APIs may be more difficult to use or may be based on a different protocol, which means that they may only be compatible with certain programming languages.

4. Is it possible to create an API without using any framework or library? If yes, then how?

Yes, it is possible to create an API without using any framework or library. The most important thing is to have a clear understanding of the HTTP protocol and how to use it to create the API endpoints that you need. Once you have a clear understanding of the basics, you can start building out your API without the need for any external dependencies.

5. What’s the difference between SOAP and REST? Which one would you prefer for creating a new API?

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol that uses XML for its message format. It also relies on other standards, such as WSDL, for defining the structure of messages. REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style that uses simple HTTP requests and responses for communication. It is often seen as a more lightweight alternative to SOAP. When creating a new API, I would prefer to use REST because it is easier to work with and requires less overhead.

6. What do you understand about versioning and deployment of REST APIs?

There are a few different ways to version and deploy REST APIs. One common approach is to use a URL path to indicate the version of the API, like /v1/api/resource. Another approach is to use a version parameter in the request, like ?version=1.0.

When it comes to deployment, it’s important to consider how you will handle breaking changes. If an API change is not backwards compatible, then you will need to create a new version of the API. This can be done by creating a new URL path or by using a different parameter in the request.

7. Can you explain what HATEOAS means? Why is it important for REST APIs?

HATEOAS stands for Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State. It is a constraint of the REST application architecture that keeps the client application stateless by allowing it to discover the application state only from information provided in server responses. This means that instead of the client having to hard-code URLs or other information about the API into its application logic, that information is instead provided dynamically in response to each request. This has a number of benefits, including making the API easier to use and more resilient to change.

8. What type of authentication mechanism can be used with REST APIs?

There are a few different types of authentication mechanisms that can be used with REST APIs. One option is to use basic authentication, which involves sending a username and password with each request. Another option is to use OAuth, which allows for more granular control over what data is shared and with whom. Finally, you could also use token-based authentication, which involves sending a unique token with each request that is then verified by the server.

9. Can you explain what JSON-LD is? What are its benefits?

JSON-LD is a standard for representing Linked Data in JSON. The benefits of JSON-LD are that it is easier to read and write than other Linked Data formats, it is more compact, and it allows for data to be linked to other data sources on the web.

10. Is it possible to have multiple endpoints on the same resource in a REST API?

Yes, it is possible to have multiple endpoints on the same resource in a REST API. This can be useful if you want to provide different functionality to different clients, or if you want to provide different levels of access to the same resource.

11. Can you explain the Richardson Maturity Model?

The Richardson Maturity Model is a model that helps to measure the maturity of a REST API. It is made up of four levels, each of which represents a different level of maturity. Level 0 is the “URI template” level, which simply means that the API uses URI templates to identify resources. Level 1 is the “resources” level, which means that the API uses resources to identify resources, and that each resource has its own URI. Level 2 is the “HTTP verbs” level, which means that the API uses HTTP verbs to identify resources, and that each resource has its own URI. Level 3 is the “hypermedia controls” level, which means that the API uses hypermedia controls to identify resources, and that each resource has its own URI.

12. How do you identify which endpoints should be exposed as part of your REST API?

There are a few factors to consider when deciding which endpoints to expose as part of your REST API. First, you need to think about which parts of your application are most likely to be used by third-party developers. You will also want to consider which endpoints will be the most stable and unlikely to change in the future. Finally, you need to think about which endpoints will provide the most value to developers and make it easier for them to build integrations with your API.

13. What’s the best way to make sure there aren’t any breaking changes when deploying a new version of a REST API?

The best way to make sure there aren’t any breaking changes when deploying a new version of a REST API is to use a tool like Swagger. Swagger is a tool that allows you to automatically generate documentation for your API. It also includes a feature that allows you to automatically validate your API against a set of rules. This can help you to catch any breaking changes before they are deployed.

14. What’s the purpose of caching in REST APIs?

Caching is a performance optimization technique that allows API responses to be stored and reused instead of being regenerated each time a request is made. This can improve the response time for subsequent requests, especially if the data doesn’t change often.

15. What are some ways to secure a REST API against malicious attacks?

There are many ways to secure a REST API against malicious attacks, but some common methods include using HTTPS for all communications, using authentication and authorization mechanisms, and using input validation.

16. What are some advantages and disadvantages of GraphQL over REST?

GraphQL has a number of advantages over REST, including the ability to query multiple resources in a single request, the ability to get only the data you need, and improved performance. However, GraphQL also has some disadvantages, including a steep learning curve and the potential for increased complexity.

17. What is the difference between HTTP PUT and POST requests?

The main difference between HTTP PUT and POST requests is that PUT requests are idempotent, meaning that they can be safely repeated without changing the state of the server, while POST requests are not. This means that if you make a PUT request and it fails for some reason, you can simply try again and be confident that it will not have any unintended side effects. With a POST request, on the other hand, you can only try once, as repeating the request may change the state of the server in undesirable ways.

18. What is the difference between REST and Microservices?

REST is an architectural style for building web services, while microservices are a software development approach for building applications as a suite of small, independent services. Both REST and microservices can be used to build web applications and APIs, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. REST is better suited for building large, monolithic applications, while microservices are better suited for building small, independent services that can be deployed and scaled independently.

19. What are some key performance metrics that need to be monitored for REST APIs?

There are a few key performance metrics that need to be monitored for REST APIs:

-Response time: This is the time it takes for the API to respond to a request.
-Throughput: This is the number of requests that the API can handle per second.
-Error rate: This is the percentage of requests that result in an error.

20. Mention some tools that can be used to help manage REST APIs effectively?

There are a number of tools that can be used to help manage REST APIs effectively. Some of these include:

– Swagger: This is a tool that can be used to automatically generate documentation for your API.
– Postman: This is a tool that can be used to test API calls and track responses.
– API Gateway: This is a tool that can be used to manage API calls and track usage.

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