Layers of APIs

For consistent functionality in modern applications, several layers are used. A service API layer is a consolidated representation of all of your service offerings. The API layer is used to mask the structure and organization of the API service from the outside world.

API Architecture:

API architecture includes a software interface development process that allows the backend data and application functionality for use in new applications. API architecture helps in creating a web of applications for microservices.

Layers of API Architecture:

Some of the layers of API architecture are the Information Management layer, Application layer, Integration layer, Interaction layer, API Experience layer, API System layer, and API process layer.

Information Management Layer:

Modern digital organizations require tons of data for smooth working. These organizations demand a constant supply of database systems for storage purposes. To cater to the demand, your application is expected to have a reliable and high-performance data layer. The information management layer is essential for advancing data storage.

Application Layer:

The application layer is located where the application runs its functions and goes live in an organizational way. The application layer can be replaced by modern applications that are built microservices.

Integration Layer:

The integration layer falls in the domain of ESB (Rare enterprise service bus) and EAI (Enterprise Application Integration). Integration layers are employed to expose services from legacy applications and data.

Interaction Layer:

The interaction layer is where applications and services used by customers, partners, and developers interact with business applications and data. Applications, unlike big giants, are entities that work for data communication, web service functions, and the creation of medium between users and servers.

API Experience Layer:

An API experience layer allows developers to access the function of other layers. This layer not only access data but also simultaneously creates separate data components. As this layer help in data synchronization, this layer has been proved crucial for the organizations which manage data compilation of different varieties. The experience layer also comes in handy in integrating new data into the data storage.

API system layer:

API System layers are used to access the core systems and provide a means of insulating the client from complexity or system updates. API system layer directs RAML to describe how to interact with the system. For instance, a System API for a product domain can contain resources with methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, and the related schemas (XSD, JSON) and responses (200, 400, 500, etc.)

API Process Layer:

Process layer APIs shape the data by organizing and channeling data by calling multiple System APIs. The organization involves the collating, dividing, filtering, and routing of data. The primary purpose of Process APIs is to strictly summarize the business process independent of the source systems (System APIs) from which the data originates.

For instance, in a purchase order process, the consumer needs to interact with various organization domains. The Process API (purchase order/order fulfillment) interacts with the already available System APIs to implement the logic. No changes are made to the System API.

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