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An API request is a message sent from one application to another to retrieve information or perform a supported operation. The receiving application processes the request and generally returns an HTTP response. Understanding requests and responses helps businesses configure, test, and troubleshoot external integrations. What does an API request contain? Depending on the provider, a request may include: 1. An endpoint URL. 2. An HTTP method. 3. Authentication information. 4. Request headers. 5. Query parameters. 6. A request body. 7. Identifiers for the records or resources involved. Not every request requires all of these components. Common HTTP methods GET Typically used to retrieve information. POST Commonly used to submit information or initiate an operation. PUT Commonly used to replace or update a resource. PATCH Commonly used to apply partial changes. DELETE Commonly used to remove a resource. The actual behavior is defined by the external API. What is an API payload? A payload is the data carried in a request or response. Many APIs use JSON, although other formats are possible. A JSON payload may contain fields such as customer identifiers, record statuses, timestamps, or operational parameters. What is an API response? A response typically contains an HTTP status code and may include a response body. The response body can contain requested information, confirmation of an operation, or error details. Common HTTP response codes 200 — The request was successful. 201 — A resource was created. 202 — The request was accepted for processing, but processing may not be complete. 204 — The request succeeded without a response body. 400 — The request is invalid. 401 — Authentication is missing or invalid. 403 — Access is forbidden. 404 — The requested resource was not found. 409 — A conflict occurred. 429 — The request was rate-limited. 500 — The external service encountered an internal error. 503 — The service is temporarily unavailable. These are common HTTP meanings. Individual APIs may provide additional details. Does HTTP 200 always mean the business operation completed correctly? Not necessarily. A successful HTTP response confirms that the server handled the request according to its API contract. The returned data and downstream business outcome should still be validated. What if an API returns incomplete information? Review the provider's response structure, permissions, requested fields, pagination rules, and data availability. Some APIs return only selected fields or a limited number of records per request. What is pagination? Pagination is a mechanism that divides large collections of records into smaller groups. An integration may need to request multiple pages to retrieve a complete collection. What is data mapping? Data mapping defines how fields from one system correspond to fields in another. For example, two systems may represent the same business information using different field names or structures. How should I validate an API operation? Step 1: Confirm the endpoint and HTTP method. Step 2: Verify authentication. Step 3: Check the required parameters. Step 4: Send a controlled request. Step 5: Inspect the HTTP response. Step 6: Validate the returned information. Step 7: Confirm the expected business outcome. Step 8: Review error handling before production use. Recommended approach Treat successful communication and successful business processing as separate validation requirements. Both should be confirmed before relying on an API integration for important operations.