What is “API-First Approach”?

The "API-First Approach" is a software development technique that focuses on creating and outlining the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) before building the actual features of an application or service. This method ensures that the API acts as a guide or plan for the development process, enabling different teams to work simultaneously and streamlining the workflow for more efficient and organized development.

The API-First Approach involves the following key steps:

1. API Design: During the initial stages of development, the main focus revolves around designing the API. This involves defining various aspects such as endpoints, data structures for requests and responses, supported methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.), authentication mechanisms, and protocols for handling errors.
2. API Specification: After completing the API design, it's documented in an API specification format such as OpenAPI/Swagger. This specification serves as a formal, machine-readable document that outlines the capabilities and requirements of the API.
3. Client and Server Collaboration: Once the API specification is available, both the client and server development teams can work simultaneously. The client developers can use the specification as a reference to create applications that interact with the API. Meanwhile, the server developers…