APIs and Middleware: Building Connected Applications
APIs and Middleware: Building Connected Applications APIs and middleware are the quiet engines behind modern software. An API defines how components talk to each other, while middleware sits between the client and core services, handling tasks like authentication, logging, and data shaping. Together they form a connected stack so frontend apps, mobile apps, and partner systems can share data safely and reliably. A few common patterns help teams scale smoothly. An API gateway provides a single face to clients and routes requests to the right service. A service mesh helps microservices talk to each other with strong security and low latency. REST, GraphQL, and gRPC offer different styles for data access, depending on needs. When you design APIs, aim for stable contracts, clear endpoints, and predictable responses. Versioning and helpful error messages reduce churn. ...