Understanding API integrations: a starting guide
What an API integration actually involves, for anyone planning to connect two systems.
What an API integration is
An API integration lets two systems exchange data directly, instead of someone copying information between them by hand. One system exposes an API - a defined set of requests it will accept and respond to - and the other calls it.
What to have ready before scoping one
Knowing these upfront makes an integration much faster to scope accurately.
- Which system is the source of truth for each piece of data
- Whether the integration needs to run in real time or on a schedule
- What should happen if the other system is temporarily unreachable
- Who owns credentials/API keys on each side
Common integration patterns
- Real-time API calls - one system calls the other directly when something happens
- Webhooks - the source system notifies the other the moment an event occurs
- Scheduled sync - data is exchanged on a regular interval rather than instantly
Still stuck?
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