After 25 years of HTTP APIs, do you have API governance in place?

Over the past 25 years, HTTP APIs have evolved significantly, yet many organizations still lack proper API governance, a critical factor for ensuring effective API management and digital transformation. At the Tyk LEAP 2.0 API governance conference, Kin Lane, a veteran in the API industry, highlighted the importance of schema literacy, the use of OpenAPI for standardization, and the complexities of managing change within API operations. The evolution of API governance is marked by a shift from simple management to a comprehensive governance approach encompassing usage, specifications, metadata, properties, and validation, with JSON schemas playing a central role. Despite the proliferation of APIs, with reports indicating that they constitute a substantial portion of web traffic, organizations face challenges such as balancing centralized and federated governance, ensuring business alignment, and managing the human experience at all touchpoints. Effective API governance requires a nuanced approach to automation, continuous dialogue, and a focus on operational objectives to successfully navigate change and maintain a robust API ecosystem.