6 Common Ways to Build APIs

REST (Representational State Transfer):
REST relies on standard HTTP methods (like GET and POST) and uses resource-based URLs for communication. It offers simplicity and scalability, making it widely adopted for web and mobile applications.

GraphQL:
GraphQL is a query language allowing clients to request specific data, offering flexibility beyond traditional REST APIs. It's useful for applications with complex data requirements.

WebSocket:
WebSocket is a communication protocol for real-time applications. It provides bidirectional communication over a single TCP connection, suitable for scenarios like live chat or online gaming.

gRPC (Google Remote Procedure Call):
gRPC is a high-performance RPC framework developed by Google. It uses Protocol Buffers for efficient serialization and is well-suited for microservices architectures.

MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport):
MQTT is a lightweight messaging protocol designed for low-bandwidth and high-latency networks. It's commonly used in IoT applications where minimal overhead is crucial.

Serverless:
Serverless architecture involves building APIs without managing server infrastructure. It allows developers to focus solely on writing code and is suitable for applications with varying workloads.