API sprawl is a situation that occurs when an organization's?application programming interfaces?(APIs) are managed by different departments or software development teams in the same organization.
Sprawl makes it difficult for developers to know which API to use, which in turn can result in their creating or acquiring new APIs that replicate or overlap the functionalities of APIs already in use.
There are several reasons why API sprawl can occur:
- Lack of centralized governance: When different teams or departments within an organization create their own APIs without a centralized governance structure, it can lead to duplicate, overlapping, or incompatible APIs.
- Unplanned growth: As an organization's needs change and new technologies are adopted, new APIs are created to support those changes. Without proper planning, this can lead to a proliferation of APIs that are difficult to manage.
- Vendor lock-in: When an organization relies heavily on a single vendor for its technology needs, it can lead to a proliferation of vendor-specific APIs that may not be interoperable with other systems.
- Mergers and acquisitions: When organizations merge or acquire other companies, they may inherit a variety of APIs that were created by the acquired company. These APIs may not be compatible with the organization's existing APIs, which can lead to API sprawl.
- Lack of documentation and standards: When APIs are not properly documented or do not follow industry standards, it can be difficult for developers to understand how to use them effectively. This can lead to the creation of new, duplicate APIs that further contribute to API sprawl.
To avoid API sprawl, organizations should implement a centralized API governance structure,?establish clear standards and documentation?and regularly review and audit their API inventory to identify duplicate or unnecessary APIs.
to innovate through many technology waves and to help clients benefit of their entire value creation potential
1 年API's must be integrated in an SYSTEM FOUNDATION ARCHITECTURE WITH A SOLID DESIGN, fonctional Architecture so the jam is avoid !