Quick Answer: An API call is a request from one application to another system's endpoint to retrieve or modify data. The API processes the request and returns a response containing data, confirmation, or error details.
Your weather app fetches today's forecast. Your payment system processes a transaction. Your social feed updates with new posts. Each action relies on API calls, a communication method that enables software systems to exchange information.
According to Akamai's State of the Internet report, API calls represented 83% of web traffic based on their October 2018 traffic analysis. Understanding how API calls work is essential for building modern applications and protecting them from attacks.
What Is an API Call?
An API call is a request sent from a client (such as a web browser, mobile app, or server) to an API endpoint to perform a specific operation. The API processes the request and returns a response containing data or confirmation.
Think of it like using an ATM: You (the client) request $100, the ATM (API) communicates with your bank's system (server), the bank verifies your account, and the ATM dispenses cash (API response).
Key Components of an API Call
Every API call contains specific elements that tell the server what operation to perform. Understanding these components helps you construct proper requests and debug issues when calls fail.
How API Calls Work
- Client initiates request: Your application makes an HTTP request to an API endpoint
- Server validates request: The API checks authentication, authorization, and input validity
- Database interaction: The server queries or updates the database if needed
- Response returned: The client receives and processes the structured response
Example GET Request:
GET /api/users/12345 HTTP/1.1
Host: api.example.com
Authorization: Bearer your_token_here
Types of API Calls (HTTP Methods)
HTTP methods define what action an API call performs on a resource. Each method serves a specific purpose, and using the correct one ensures your API follows REST conventions and behaves predictably.
GET requests are read-only and should never modify server data. POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE change data and require careful authorization controls.
Understanding API Responses
API responses tell your application whether a request succeeded or failed. Status codes provide immediate feedback, while headers contain metadata like rate limit information.
Always check status codes before processing response data. A 200 response contains valid data; a 401 requires reauthentication; a 429 means you've exceeded rate limits.
Authentication Methods
API Keys: Simple tokens passed in headers or query parameters.
X-API-Key: sk_live_abc123xyz789
Bearer Tokens: JWT or OAuth tokens in the Authorization header.
Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIs...
Never hardcode credentials in client-side code or public repositories. Use environment variables and server-side proxies.
API Call Security Risks
Most tutorials skip security entirely. According to the Salt Security State of API Security Report, 95% of surveyed organizations experienced security problems in production APIs, with 23% suffering breaches as a result.
Understanding the OWASP API Security Top 10 helps identify where your API calls may be vulnerable.
Best Practices for API Calls
Functionality:
- Use correct HTTP methods following REST conventions
- Always use HTTPS to encrypt data in transit
- Handle errors gracefully with appropriate retry logic
- Respect rate limits by monitoring X-RateLimit-Remaining headers
- Set timeouts to prevent hanging on unresponsive APIs
Security:
- Validate all inputs before sending requests
- Never expose API keys in client-side code
- Use short-lived tokens with refresh mechanisms
- Test APIs for OWASP vulnerabilities before production
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Developers frequently make preventable errors when working with API calls. Recognizing these patterns early saves debugging time and prevents security vulnerabilities from reaching production.
Monitoring and Debugging
Log API calls with timestamps, endpoints, and response codes for troubleshooting. Track metrics like response times and error rates to identify performance issues. Automated API security testing integrated into CI/CD pipelines catches vulnerabilities that manual testing misses.
Conclusion
API calls form the communication backbone of modern applications. Each call contains specific components (method, endpoint, headers, body, parameters) that determine what operation the server performs. Beyond functionality, security matters: broken authentication, authorization flaws, and injection attacks make API protection essential.
Ready to Secure Your API Calls?
Understanding how API calls work is the first step. Protecting them from attacks is the next step.
APIsec automatically tests every endpoint for vulnerabilities like BOLA, broken authentication, and injection attacks. The platform integrates into your CI/CD pipeline and continuously monitors for security gaps that manual testing misses. Trusted by 80% of Fortune 100 companies, APIsec has tested over 1 million APIs.
Visit APIsec and Start Your Free Trial to see how APIsec identifies real exploits in your APIs.
FAQs
What is the difference between an API and an API call?
An API defines rules and endpoints for system communication. An API call is the actual request sent using those rules to exchange data or trigger actions.
Are API calls and API requests the same thing?
Yes, the terms are interchangeable. Both refer to the message sent from a client to an API endpoint requesting data or an action.
How do I secure my API calls?
Use HTTPS for encryption, implement proper authentication (OAuth 2.0 recommended), validate all inputs, enforce rate limits, and run automated security testing against OWASP API Top 10 vulnerabilities.
Why do API calls fail?
Common causes include incorrect authentication credentials, malformed request syntax, invalid endpoints, exceeded rate limits, and server errors. Check status codes and response body for specific error messages.
Are API calls free?
Pricing varies by provider. Many APIs offer free tiers with rate limits (100-1000 calls/day). Enterprise APIs typically charge based on call volume or features.
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