Internal and external APIs both perform the same basic function, in terms of delivering the data and integrations needed to facilitate application operations. However, depending on whether they handle internal APIs, architects and developers will need to adjust the way they monitor and manage these APIs. If not, it could have drastic effects on the usability of those APIs, and possibly cause catastrophic data exposures.
What is an internal API? #
Internal APIs provide access to sensitive resources within an organization’s software system. They simplify the process of linking back-end systems or data between the multitude of applications that control internal operations. Any application can use a standardized internal API to integrate with an internal system. This eliminates the need to build unique integrations between each application, or manually build connections between back-end systems.
What is an external API? #
External APIs expose a business’s internal resources to outside users or applications. For instance, third-party developers who need to access data or services that belong to a business, or who want to build apps that integrate with the business’s platform, can do so using external APIs.