APIrequests

An API request is a message sent by a client to an application programming interface to perform an operation or retrieve data. It typically uses HTTP or HTTPS and consists of a target URL, a method, headers, and an optional body. The URL includes a base endpoint and may contain path segments and query parameters. Common HTTP methods used in API requests include GET for retrieval, POST for creation, PUT or PATCH for updates, and DELETE for removal. Headers convey metadata such as content type, authentication, and caching directives, while the request body, when present, is usually in JSON or XML format.

Authentication and authorization are standard features of API requests. Clients may present API keys, OAuth tokens, or signed credentials to prove identity and permissions. Servers validate credentials and may enforce rate limits, which constrain how many requests a client can make in a given period to prevent abuse. Requests often require specific content types and accepted formats indicated by headers, and servers may respond with pagination information when dealing with large datasets.

Responses include a status code and a message body. Status codes indicate the result of the request, such as 200 for success, 201 for creation, 4xx for client errors, and 5xx for server errors. The response body typically contains data or error details, and APIs may support pagination, filtering, and sorting through query parameters. Error handling usually involves standardized error objects with codes and messages to aid debugging.

Common practices for API requests include using HTTPS, keeping payloads concise, implementing retry with backoff, respecting rate limits, ensuring idempotence for safe operations, validating inputs, and logging requests for observability.