Endpoint

What is an endpoint? #

An endpoint refers to a device, service or URL that serves as a communication or access point within a network, system or application, depending on the context in which the term is used.

API endpoints and cloud endpoints are used to expose access to applications or services, whereas network endpoints or security endpoints refer to a unique device, service or application that is connected to a network or system.

Types of endpoint #

As we mentioned, there are different types of endpoints depending on the type of computing scenario in which they are mentioned.

Network endpoint #

In computer networking, an endpoint is a specific device or computer that is connected to a network. It is assigned a unique identifier, such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address, which allows other devices to communicate with it. Endpoints can include computers, servers, routers, switches, smartphones, tablets or any other network-connected device.

Security endpoint #

In the field of cybersecurity, an endpoint refers to a computing device or application that acts as a point of entry or access to a network. Endpoints can be computers, laptops, mobile devices or servers. Endpoint security focuses on protecting these devices from threats, such as malware, unauthorised access or data breaches, by employing measures like antivirus software, firewalls, encryption and access controls.

Cloud endpoint #

A cloud endpoint refers to a specific service or resource within a cloud environment that can be accessed over the internet. It acts as a communication interface or entry point for clients to interact with cloud services and perform various operations. Cloud endpoints can take different forms depending on the cloud service provider and the specific functionality being referred to.

For example, they can utilise API endpoints, which we will discuss below, but also utilise storage endpoints, compute endpoints and messaging endpoints.

Cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, iDrive or Microsoft OneDrive, provide storage endpoints for clients to access and manipulate stored data. A storage endpoint represents a specific URL or URI that corresponds to a storage bucket or container where data is stored. Clients can use the endpoint to upload, download or manage files and objects stored in the cloud storage service.

Cloud computing platforms, such as Amazon or Microsoft Azure, offer compute endpoints that allow clients to create, manage and interact with virtual machines or instances. Compute endpoints enable clients to perform operations such as provisioning virtual machines, starting or stopping instances, configuring networking or executing commands on the virtual machines.

Cloud messaging services provide messaging endpoints that enable clients to send and receive messages or notifications. Messaging endpoints allow clients to publish messages to topics or queues, subscribe to topics, receive notifications and implement communication patterns like publish-subscribe or message queuing.

API endpoint #

An API endpoint is a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) that exposes a particular functionality or resource of a web service or API. It acts as a point of interaction or communication between client applications and the server hosting the API.

API endpoints typically follow a structured URL pattern and adhere to the protocols defined by the API, such as REST (Representational State Transfer) or SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

How does an API endpoint work? #

When a client application wants to interact with an API, it sends an HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) request to a specific endpoint. The endpoint defines the desired operation or action that the client wants to perform, such as retrieving data, submitting data or executing a specific function.

Here are some key aspects of API endpoints:

1. URL structure: An endpoint URL typically follows a specific structure that reflects the API’s organisation and resource hierarchy. It usually starts with the base URL of the API and is further appended with additional path segments to specify the desired resource or operation.
2. HTTP methods: HTTP requests sent to API endpoints use different methods to indicate the intended action. The most commonly used methods are GET (retrieve data), POST (submit data), PUT (update data), DELETE (remove data), and PATCH (partial update).
3. Request parameters: Endpoints can accept additional parameters as part of the URL or within the request body. These parameters provide additional information to the API and help tailor the response to the client’s needs. Parameters can be used for filtering, sorting, pagination, authentication, or other purposes.
4. Response format: When the server receives an API request, it processes it and generates a corresponding response. The response typically includes a status code indicating the success or failure of the request, along with a payload containing the requested data or any error messages. The response format can vary, but commonly used formats include JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

Here’s a basic example of an API endpoint:

GET /api/users/12345

In this example, the endpoint is /api/users/12345, and it uses the GET method. It is requesting information about the user with the ID 12345.

API endpoints provide a standardised and structured way for client applications to interact with the API and access its functionalities and resources. They allow developers to build powerful and scalable applications by exploiting the capabilities exposed by the API.