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Learn API management with online courses and programs

Learn API management to control activity on your digital products and services. Explore ways to manage user access and the developer experience with courses from edX.
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What is API management?

API management is the process used to ensure that application programming interfaces (APIs) are secure, reliable, and up to date. Management teams use these strategies to monitor how their APIs are used and to decide when to deploy changes to optimize the user experience. API management also sets the conditions for external developers to interact with data via the API.

There are many benefits of learning API management solutions, such as gaining the ability to:Footnote 1

  • Securely manage, distribute, and monitor APIs in real time.

  • Automate redundant and low-level API management tasks.

  • Implement access control policies.

  • Onboard new users with documentation.

  • Manage performance and security parameters.

  • Maintain a comprehensive audit trail of activity with detailed logs.

  • Analyze usage statistics to identify potential threats quickly.

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API management tutorial curriculum

An introductory API management course will start by reviewing the basics of APIs, including what they are and what they do. You might also learn about API management policies for security, authentication, and more.

At intermediate levels, learners could practice creating their own API or working with a simple API so that they can observe how the system operates from the inside out. You could then apply what you have learned by working within an actual management product, which can provide real-time monitoring and reports for usage statistics, diagnostics, and other metrics. Advanced courses may also allow you to delve deeper into using web programming languages to build complex APIs from scratch.

edX offers a variety of educational opportunities for learners interested in studying many different disciplines. A boot camp can provide flexible, hands-on learning for those who want to upskill quickly, while executive education courses are designed for busy professionals. You can also pursue a more comprehensive curriculum in a bachelor’s degree program or, for more advanced learners, a master’s degree program. Find the right learning path for you.

Explore jobs that use API management

There are many careers that use APIs and could benefit from knowledge of managing how they are used. Examples of professions include:

  • Software engineer: Builds and manages software products to meet the needs of a product, business or user group. These professionals use APIs in digital products like apps and online services to ensure that users can access the appropriate data and services.Footnote 2

  • Web developer: Creates and manages websites and web applications, including APIs that allow users to interface with apps in the desired manner.Footnote 3

  • Quality assurance (QA) tester or engineer: Tests out security and access management features while mimicking real-world usage patterns to ensure they function as intended.Footnote 4

  • Computer support technician: Helps non-developer users interact with APIs by troubleshooting problems and helping develop customized solutions to meet user needs.Footnote 5

  • Technical writer: Creates product documentation and other instructional resources to help other users navigate an API portal.Footnote 6

Each of these roles will have different education and skill requirements. For example, you may be able to build relevant skills in a coding boot camp. However, some employers may seek candidates with a degree in computer science depending on the role. Before deciding on a specific learning path, research the positions you hope to pursue and align your coursework with your career goals.

How to use API management in your career

In a programming role such as web developer or software engineer, you might use API management products to run the APIs you build. These management tools provide insight into API usage, let you manage requests at any scale, and simplify workflows by automating repetitive tasks.Footnote 7

Even if you are not someone that builds APIs professionally, you could use the knowledge you build in an API management course to improve your business processes and practices. For example, if you're in customer support, you can use a cloud contact center platform API management tool to improve the customer experience. If you route customer help requests through an API, you can gather enough data for in-depth analytics. This lets you identify patterns, predict issues, and make data-driven decisions.Footnote 8

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Frequently asked questions

API management allows you to control access to your digital platforms and services. This allows developers to engage with your APIs at any scale. You can also use your API management platform of choice to speed up development by letting it handle redundant tasks such as regular load tests. Management tools can also help integrate security protocols to comply with industry standards and keep data secure as it flows through the API.

An API is a set of mechanisms and protocols that allows two systems to communicate and exchange information.Footnote 9 Think of it as a doorway through which approved users can access the appropriate information. API management is the process that controls how the API functions. An API management platform can determine how many times an app requests data, how much each request costs and other specifics around usage and access.

The best API management tool depends on the nature of the task. For this reason, there is no single answer and it is best to evaluate a variety of tools to see which meets your needs. For example, you will likely want to consider speed and agility, costs, and scaling.

Azure API management by Microsoft is a hybrid multi-cloud platform. It works on different API gateway deployment types within Azure, other cloud platforms, and on-premises. It handles system traffic, provides observability, and manages security and compliance standards. It also allows you to split up the front- and back-end teams with automated API documentation, revisions, versioning, and mocking.Footnote 10

An API management platform allows you to take charge of your API in a variety of ways. For example, it can include resources for developers, such as documentation, analytics, and information on monetization.

API management is important because it helps development teams ensure that their APIs function as intended. You can use your management strategy to enforce API security policies and comply with regulatory standards across your systems at scale. A tool that manages API requests can balance the load to keep a smaller system from overloading. It can also save time and speed up development cycles if you automate repetitive and low-level tasks, such as rollbacks and load tests.