SSO stands for Single Sign-On. It is an authentication mechanism that allows users to log in once and access multiple applications or systems without having to re-enter their credentials for each one. With SSO, users can authenticate themselves to a central identity provider, which then grants them access to various services or applications. This simplifies the user experience, improves security, and reduces the need for multiple usernames and passwords.

APIs have become a vital part of modern software and business infrastructure, enabling organizations to expand the capabilities of software and improve integration with external services. The process of API development involves several stages, including planning, designing, developing, testing, deploying, and maintaining APIs. The API producer is responsible for creating and managing the API, while the API consumer utilizes the API to build applications or integrate with existing software. Apigit's API Platform is designed to help organizations navigate the API development and management process more effectively, with native Git support and streamlined collaboration. By leveraging Apigit's capabilities, businesses can improve operational efficiency, integration with external services, and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A webhook is a way for an application to provide real-time information to another application or service by sending HTTP requests when a specific event or trigger occurs. It allows applications to communicate and share data with each other automatically.

This article explains the different components of a REST API by following a request from end to end. An API client is responsible for assembling and directing an API request to the API server. An API request to a REST API consists of an endpoint, method, parameters, request headers, and a request body. The API server handles authentication, validates input data, retrieves or manipulates data from a database, and returns the appropriate response to the client. An API response typically includes a status code, response headers, and a body. API status codes are used to provide information to the client about the outcome of the request and to help the client understand how to proceed. Response headers and bodies provide additional information and data about the response.

API governance provides structure and oversight for API development, ensuring quality, security, compliance, and alignment with business goals. It helps organizations maintain consistency, reduce redundancy, maximize ROI, and improve the user experience through standardized documentation and design patterns.

Data masking is essential for REST APIs to protect sensitive information, comply with regulations, maintain data integrity, enhance security, and facilitate testing environments, ultimately preserving user privacy and reducing breach risks.