Take a holistic approach to API design

FAQs

• How does Tyk's OAS-native approach differ from other API management solutions?

  Unlike companies that translate your OpenAPI Specification (OAS) document and lock you into their proprietary solution, Tyk consumes your OAS document directly and adds an extension to exploit the capabilities of the Tyk API Gateway. This approach supports efficient API design across all protocols while ensuring you maintain control of your API specifications and avoid vendor lock-in. It means you can benefit from Tyk’s powerful management features while keeping your OAS document intact.

  ---

• Can we test our API designs before the backend development is complete?

  Yes, Tyk provides easy mocking capabilities that allow you to start testing your API’s functionality before you’ve created the backend. This feature decouples frontend and backend development timelines, enabling parallel workflows and a faster journey to market. Your teams can validate designs, gather feedback, and refine the API contract without waiting for the complete backend implementation. Tyk’s easy automation further speeds up this process, without compromising quality or testing processes.

  ---

• How does Tyk support GraphQL API design?

  Tyk enables you to create GraphQL schemas either from scratch or on the basis of existing REST endpoint payloads through its Universal Data Graph feature. This allows you to combine endpoints in your schema into one universal interface, leveraging the benefits of GraphQL alongside your existing REST APIs. It means you can access multiple APIs with a single query, providing flexibility in how you design your APIs and expose your data.

  ---

• How does Tyk help us maintain consistency across our API designs?

  Tyk offers API templates that allow you to set a blueprint for your APIs and governance policies that enforce consistency while still allowing room for creativity and innovation. This approach ensures consistency across your API portfolio, covering all API protocols and making it easier for developers to work with your APIs. It reduces the learning curve for new team members and API consumers.

  ---

• Can Tyk handle different API protocols within the same management solution?

  Yes, Tyk supports every protocol including REST, GraphQL, and asynchronous APIs within its universal API management solution. This multi-protocol support allows you to design and manage various API types using a consistent approach, rather than requiring different tools or processes for each protocol. You can govern all APIs centrally while working with different protocols to suit your needs across the business.

  ---

• How does Tyk support API versioning without breaking changes?

  Tyk enables easy versioning for REST, GraphQL, streaming and other APIs. It allows you to introduce new features, modify existing functionality, or deprecate outdated elements without breaking integrations for users who rely on previous versions. This helps maintain backward compatibility for existing consumers while allowing your API to evolve with new features and improvements.

  For Tyk OAS APIs, you essentially create distinct iterations of your API, each with its own API definition file. This allows almost complete differentiation of configuration between your API versions. For Tyk Classic APIs, you configure all versions of an API from a single API definition, so they share many features, with only a subset available to be configured differently between versions.

  ---

• What analytics capabilities does Tyk provide for our API designs?

  Tyk offers real-time analytics at every stage of the API lifecycle, helping you understand what’s happening and why. Through comprehensive observability capabilities, it allows you to monitor API usage, performance, and consumer behavior, informing design decisions and helping you create more effective APIs. Tyk also provides native instrumentation for OpenTelemetry built directly into the gateway, further enhancing your observability powers.

  ---

• How flexible is Tyk's API design solution for our specific business needs?

  Tyk emphasizes flexibility at every stage of the API lifecycle, allowing you to design APIs that suit your business goals and end users while fitting around your needs, systems, and services. The platform is highly customizable, enabling you to implement your preferred design approach and work with your favorite tools, without forcing you to adapt to rigid structures or workflows. API templates support reusability and efficiency alongside design flexibility.

  ---

• What kind of support is available if we encounter challenges during the API design process?

  Tyk provides access to industry-leading expertise and comprehensive community support, available 24/7. This support ecosystem ensures that you can get help when needed, whether from the Tyk team or by tapping into the collective knowledge of the thousands of members in the active, engaged and growing Tyk user community.

  ---

• How does Tyk's approach to API design help us get to market faster?

  Tyk enables faster product creation through several features. Easy API mocking reduces dependency on backend developers, allowing you to start testing before creating the backend.

  You can also use API templates to set a blueprint for your APIs, enforcing governance policies while speeding up time to market. With support for multiple protocols providing flexibility, and the ability to combine REST and GraphQL for powerful integration options, Tyk also supports a creative approach to API design that lets you innovate at pace.

  Together, these capabilities help you design, test, and deploy APIs more quickly, allowing you to beat the competition to market.

  ---