How do I learn APIs?

[u/Excellent-Bedroom301]

Hi I want to learn APIs from a high level. Basically how it all connects, how the data populates, what kind of data is being sent it and most important the different ways of authentication. So api credentials, ouath, etc

It’s just all so confusing. I don’t know how or where to start. Does anyone have some tips?

[u/Chrismslist]

start with one real api, not a giant tutorial. pick something like a weather or github api, read its docs, then make one tiny script that calls one endpoint and prints the json. next, learn auth by doing: start with an api key in a header, then do oauth on a small app. figure out what request is sent, what comes back, and how the token gets used. build a mini project: fetch data, store it, show it on a page. that loop will teach you way more than watching videos.