2024 State of SaaS APIs: URLs

The article examines the critical role of URLs in APIs, highlighting their function in uniquely identifying resources managed by APIs, typically data or methods. It explores the structure of URLs, detailing components such as the scheme, subdomains, domain names, ports, paths, and query parameters, all of which contribute to defining the location and accessibility of web resources. The text also discusses the concept of endpoints within APIs, noting that each resource has a corresponding URL that client applications use for access. It distinguishes between static base URLs, custom domain/subdomain-based URLs, and versioned URLs, emphasizing the prevalence of static base URLs, which are utilized by 93% of APIs for consistent resource access. Furthermore, 72% of APIs employ versioned URLs to maintain backward compatibility and facilitate updates, allowing for structured development without disrupting user experience. The article underscores the importance of URLs in advanced API design, providing insights into their usage and the benefits of versioning for ensuring clear communication and secure updates.