Home > Store

Patterns for API Design: Simplifying Integration with Loosely Coupled Message Exchanges

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Patterns for API Design: Simplifying Integration with Loosely Coupled Message Exchanges

Best Value Purchase

Book + eBook Bundle

  • Your Price: $57.08
  • List Price: $92.38
  • Includes EPUB and PDF
  • About eBook Formats
  • This eBook includes the following formats, accessible from your Account page after purchase:

    ePub EPUB The open industry format known for its reflowable content and usability on supported mobile devices.

    Adobe Reader PDF The popular standard, used most often with the free Acrobat® Reader® software.

    This eBook requires no passwords or activation to read. We customize your eBook by discreetly watermarking it with your name, making it uniquely yours.

More Purchase Options

Book

  • Your Price: $43.99
  • List Price: $54.99
  • Usually ships in 24 hours.

eBook (Watermarked)

  • Your Price: $29.91
  • List Price: $37.39
  • Includes EPUB and PDF
  • About eBook Formats
  • This eBook includes the following formats, accessible from your Account page after purchase:

    ePub EPUB The open industry format known for its reflowable content and usability on supported mobile devices.

    Adobe Reader PDF The popular standard, used most often with the free Acrobat® Reader® software.

    This eBook requires no passwords or activation to read. We customize your eBook by discreetly watermarking it with your name, making it uniquely yours.

Description

  • Copyright 2023
  • Dimensions: 7" x 9-1/8"
  • Pages: 544
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-767010-9
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-767010-9

Proven Patterns for Designing Evolvable High-Quality APIs--For Any Domain, Technology, or Platform

APIs enable breakthrough innovation and digital transformation in organizations and ecosystems of all kinds. To create user-friendly, reliable and well-performing APIs, architects, designers, and developers need expert design guidance. This practical guide cuts through the complexity of API conversations and their message contents, introducing comprehensive guidelines and heuristics for designing APIs sustainably and specifying them clearly, for whatever technologies or platforms you use.

In Patterns for API Design: Simplifying Integration with Loosely Coupled Message Exchanges, five expert architects and developers cover the entire API lifecycle, from launching projects and establishing goals through defining requirements, elaborating designs, planning evolution, and creating useful documentation. They crystallize the collective knowledge of many practitioners into 44 API design patterns, consistently explained with context, pros and cons, conceptual solutions, and concrete examples. To make their pattern language accessible, they present a domain model, a running case study, decision narratives with pattern selection options and criteria, and walkthroughs of real-world projects applying the patterns in two different industries.

  • Identify and overcome API design challenges with patterns
  • Size your endpoint types and operations adequately
  • Design request and response messages and their representations
  • Refine your message design for quality
  • Plan to evolve your APIs
  • Document and communicate your API contracts
  • Combine patterns to solve real-world problems and make the right tradeoffs

"This book provides a healthy mix of theory and practice, containing numerous nuggets of deep advice but never losing the big picture . . . grounded in real-world experience and documented with academic rigor applied and practitioner community feedback incorporated. I am confident that [it] will serve the community well, today and tomorrow."

--Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Frank Leymann, Managing Director, Institute of Architecture of Application Systems, University of Stuttgart

Sample Content

Excerpt

How to Shape Responses to API Calls

Sample Pages

Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 7)

Table of Contents

Foreword by Vaughn Vernon, Series Editor     xvii

Foreword by Frank Leymann     xxi

Preface     xxiii

Part 1: Foundations and Narratives     1

Chapter 1: Application Programming Interface (API) Fundamentals     3

     From Local Interfaces to Remote APIs     3

     Decision Drivers in API Design     14

     A Domain Model for Remote APIs     22

     Summary     28

Chapter 2: Lakeside Mutual Case Study     31

     Business Context and Requirements     31

     Architecture Overview     35

     API Design Activities     39

     Target API Specification     39

     Summary     41

Chapter 3: API Decision Narratives     43

     Prelude: Patterns as Decision Options, Forces as Decision Criteria     43

     Foundational API Decisions and Patterns     45

     Decisions about API Roles and Responsibilities     57

     Selecting Message Representation Patterns     70

     Interlude: Responsibility and Structure Patterns in the Lakeside Mutual Case     82

     Governing API Quality     84

     Deciding for API Quality Improvements     98

     Decisions about API Evolution     110

     Summary     122

Part 2: The Patterns     125

Chapter 4: Pattern Language Introduction      127

     Positioning and Scope     128

     Patterns: Why and How?     130

     Navigating through the Patterns     131

     Foundations: API Visibility and Integration Types     137

     Basic Structure Patterns     146

     Summary     158

Chapter 5: Define Endpoint Types and Operations     161

     Introduction to API Roles and Responsibilities     162

     Endpoint Roles (aka Service Granularity)     167

     Operation Responsibilities     215

     Summary     248

Chapter 6: Design Request and Response Message Representations     253

     Introduction to Message Representation Design     253

     Element Stereotypes     256

     Special-Purpose Representations     282

     Summary                                                 305

Chapter 7: Refine Message Design for Quality  309

     Introduction to API Quality     309

     Message Granularity     313

     Client-Driven Message Content (aka Response Shaping)     325

Message Exchange Optimization (aka Conversation Efficiency)     344

Summary     355

Chapter 8: Evolve APIs     357

Introduction to API Evolution     357

Versioning and Compatibility Management     362

Life-Cycle Management Guarantees     374

Summary     393

Chapter 9: Document and Communicate API Contracts     395

Introduction to API Documentation     395

Documentation Patterns     398

Summary     421

Part 3: Our Patterns in Action (Now and Then)     423

Chapter 10: Real-World Pattern Stories     425

Large-Scale Process Integration in the Swiss Mortgage Business     426

Offering and Ordering Processes in Building Construction     438

Summary     445

Chapter 11: Conclusion     447

Short Retrospective     448

API Research: Refactoring to Patterns, MDSL, and More     449

The Future of APIs     450

Additional Resources     451

Final Remarks     451

Appendix A: Endpoint Identification and Pattern Selection Guides     453

Appendix B: Implementation of the Lakeside Mutual Case     463

Appendix C: Microservice Domain-Specific Language (MDSL)     471

Bibliography     483

Index     499

Updates

Errata

We've made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this book and its companion content. Any errors that have been confirmed since this book was published can be downloaded below.

Download the errata (46 KB .doc)

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020