API Gateway

An API Gateway is an intermediary layer between applications and APIs. The purpose of a Gateway is to manage API governance.

But what does this mean in practice? Let's go over some key concepts.

An Application

Any attempt to use an API serves a specific purpose supported by an application. Whether it’s a mobile application, a data synchronization batch, a physical machine, or a website... Ultimately, an application will generate one or more request flows to APIs.

An API

An API portal can reference hundreds of APIs made available to applications. These APIs are listed in a catalog, including both production APIs and the same APIs in pre-production or integration environments.

Governance

Governance involves granting each application access rights to APIs (referred to as subscriptions) and managing the resulting request flows.

A Developer Portal

A major advantage for integrators is the developer portal. This portal allows them to:

• View subscriptions and their authentication details.
• Access documentation for each API.
• View logs of all API calls made.
• Receive analytics and alerts regarding behaviors related to each API subscription. Essentially, it enables monitoring the health of an integration.