&EPA
API Gateway
What is an API?
To understand API Gateways, we must first understand what an API is. API
stands for Application Programming Interface - a type of software that
systems, applications and developers can use to perform a specific function
(e.g. change the background color of a web page, retrieve data from a database). Once developed, an API can
be reused by others for their own purposes, thus minimizing building redundant solutions, contributing to
reducing costs and promoting standardization. In short, APIs can deliver tremendous business value when
properly used and managed.
As APIs proliferate it becomes increasingly important that organizations invest in tools that ensure that
individual APIs are accessible and available. Managing an increasingly complex "API eco-system" can spiral out
of control. API Gateways can mitigate many of these risks.
What is an API Gateway?
An API gateway is a clearing house for API requests. The gateway accepts the consumer request, identifies the
API provider and delivers the results of the API request back to the consumer. The gateway may also perform
additional value-added functions such as quality, security and information checks and manipulations as it
passes information back-and-forth between the API consumer and the API provider.
EPA & API Gateways
EPA is exploring multiple vendor offerings to establish a formal API Gateway for EPA, including Microsoft's API
Management Suite and Amazon Web Service's (AWS) API Gateway and other cloud-native solutions which
have API management capabilities.
Additional Information
For more information, contact: Steve Newman, newman.steve@epa.gov. (202) 566-2134.
1
September 2018

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