What is API Integration?

API integration supports essential tools such as integration platform as a service (iPaaS) solutions and is crucial for the modernization and digital transformation of corporate IT infrastructure. Modernization demands a versatile strategy that accommodates both new and existing systems; API integration provides this by enabling organizations to update the interfaces of all enterprise systems.

Modernization isn't an instantaneous process. As an organization updates various aspects of its IT environment to foster innovation, it needs to integrate data, services, and processes from both novel and established systems throughout the IT landscape. API integration allows for the separation of the integration interface from the application, assisting organizations in innovating and staying agile without needing systems to be completely updated.

Difference between Integrating APIs and Managing APIs

API integration and API management are different yet interconnected fields with unique objectives and methods. Robust API management techniques can enhance API integration. API integration involves utilizing APIs to reveal integration flows and link applications, business systems, processes, and data.

API management encompasses a wider range of practices and tools that treat APIs as a distinct asset category and covers the entire lifecycle management of APIs. It is the expandable method of developing, distributing, and overseeing APIs, sharing them, managing access, monitoring their usage, and enforcing security protocols within an enterprise and multicloud environment.

Effective API management provides organizations with enhanced oversight of their APIs. It enhances and simplifies API documentation, API security, and API discovery, aids organizations in preventing infrastructure disorder and duplication, and promotes API effectiveness. In general, it fosters improved APIs and enhances the organization's comprehension of existing APIs and their applications, all of which support API integration.

An effective API management strategy can guarantee that organizations are maximizing API integrations, while also facilitating the reuse of components and data assets whenever feasible. When existing APIs are available for invoking integrations, organizations can bypass the development of custom APIs.