Web APIs or application programming interfaces permit communication over the Internet between the client and a remote resource. APIs have been around for some time and were most commonly used to facilitate easier system integration. The traditional code-first approach to software development has recently given rise to the field. However, as organizations moved into the cloud and cloud services were adopted, an API-first approach came to the fore. It has since proven to be an effective way of adding more clarity and flexibility to the development process, supporting a programming model-driven by reactive events. What is the API-first development approach? The API-first approach means that the first interface of an application is an API. The team works on an API layer following agile software development principles instead of concentrating on core functionality and writing code upfront. This helps to get a general overview of the app’s underlying API and eventually to agilely design service-oriented applications. An application programming interface is about how its functionality is exposed by an app. Thus, unless an API covers one or the other feature, it is not an actual part of the product. In fact, by first designing an API, the development team facilitates discussion with stakeholders about the app’s functionality before the coding itself starts. This opens up an opportunity to gather early feedback and removes constraints that might run counter to the team’s vision for the app. Benefits of an API-first approach: Parallel software development Improved developer experience The accelerated development process Reduced risks of failure Optimized development costs Conclusion: An API-first strategy can have a powerful impact on the interaction of reliable internal and external clients with services. Transparency, scalability, performance, and cost benefits are offered by the approach. The API-first approach can in fact change the way businesses organize their infrastructure for the better. It saved time, reduced spending, boosted performance, improved experience for all, and made crystal clear their value proposition.