This guide covers the complete process of integrating third-party APIs into our application, including authentication, error handling, and rate limiting strategies.

Authentication

Most APIs require authentication via OAuth 2.0 or API keys. Here's how to handle both:

// API Key Authentication
const apiClient = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.example.com',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.API_KEY}`,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  }
});

Rate Limiting

To avoid hitting rate limits, implement these strategies:

• Use exponential backoff for retry logic
• Cache responses where appropriate
• Implement request queuing for bulk operations
• Monitor usage with proper logging

Always check the API documentation for specific rate limit headers and adjust your implementation accordingly.

Error Handling

Proper error handling ensures graceful degradation when API calls fail. Consider these scenarios:

1. Network timeouts (implement retry with backoff)
2. Authentication errors (refresh tokens automatically)
3. Rate limiting (queue and retry later)
4. Server errors (log and alert monitoring)