Free preview lesson from IT Systems Integration & API Architecture.
Integration starts with choosing the right kind of interface. Each style suits different needs, and many organizations use several.
Three common styles
- REST — resources accessed through standard HTTP methods. Widely understood and well supported; a sensible default for many integrations.
- GraphQL — clients ask for exactly the data they need in one request. Useful when clients have varied data needs.
- Event-driven — systems publish events that others subscribe to. Good for decoupling and near-real-time updates.
Design habits that pay off
Name resources consistently, version your API from the start, return clear error messages, and document every endpoint with examples. Treat the API as a product that other teams depend on.
Exercise
Pick an integration between two systems you know, such as orders flowing to an accounting system. Decide whether request-response or events fit better, and sketch the endpoints or event types with their key fields.
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