API Integration Overview
APIs are the connective tissue between software systems. This guide covers our approach to API design, common integration patterns, and what to consider when connecting your system to external services.
Our API Philosophy
We design APIs that are predictable, well-documented, and resilient. Every endpoint has a clear purpose, consistent error handling, and returns data in a standard format. We follow RESTful conventions where appropriate and deviate only when there's a clear benefit. The goal is an API that other developers can integrate with quickly and confidently.
Common Integration Patterns
Most integrations fall into a few patterns. Understanding which pattern applies to your situation helps set expectations for complexity and reliability.
- Request-Response: Your system calls an external API and waits for a result (e.g., payment processing, data lookup)
- Webhooks: An external system sends data to your system when events occur (e.g., payment confirmations, status updates)
- Polling: Your system periodically checks an external system for changes (used when webhooks aren't available)
- Event-Driven: Asynchronous message-based communication between system components
Error Handling & Reliability
External APIs fail — that's a given. We build integrations with retry logic, timeout handling, and fallback behavior. When an external service is unavailable, your system should degrade gracefully, not crash. We also implement logging so that integration failures are visible and diagnosable.
Authentication & Security
All API integrations use appropriate authentication — API keys, OAuth tokens, or mutual TLS depending on the service. Credentials are never hardcoded. We use environment variables and secure secret management. All external communication happens over HTTPS.
Data Transformation
Different systems structure data differently. We build a transformation layer that converts between your internal data model and the format required by external services. This keeps your core system clean and isolated from the quirks of third-party APIs.
Key Takeaways
- APIs follow RESTful conventions with consistent error handling
- Four main patterns: request-response, webhooks, polling, event-driven
- Every integration has retry logic, timeouts, and graceful degradation
- Authentication uses API keys, OAuth, or mTLS — never hardcoded credentials
- A transformation layer isolates your system from third-party API quirks
Related Guides
Put This Into Practice
Now that you understand how we work, let's talk about your project.