“You might not think that programmers are artists, but programming is an extremely creative profession. It’s logic-based creativity” – John Romero

The fact that program developers form the spine of all the digital upscaling across the businesses undoubtedly rings true. It is a tech wonder, how businesses have transformed today for good, owing to an accelerating digital advancement.

API or Application Programming Interface as it is known is an intermediary application that enables different apps to converse with each other. The APIs are an integral part of an organization’s functioning. How do the APIs assist in data migration? What is the meaning and significance of Data Migration? Is there any specific type of API suitable for data migration? What are its benefits?

Types of APIs

As we know by now that the APIs help in interconnecting different applications’ components, let us take a glance at various types of APIs and their functions:

• REST – Known as Representational State Transfer, it is a web service API and one of the most commonly used APIs. It adopts a straightforward connection between the server and the end-user.
• SOAP – Simple Object Access Protocol, connects different apps through HTTP and XML. Implementation of a flexible integration is not possible with SOAP as is in REST. This is because, in terms of security, it has stringent rules.
• ASP.NET – The primary feature of the .NET API is its simple open-source web framework to work with. The third-party integration is flexible with this type of API.

What is Data Migration?

As the name suggests, when certain data is moved from one location to the other, it is called data migration. Within an organization, whether data is being transferred through the cloud, or from one archive to a wider vault, the process must be smooth and seamless. This depends entirely upon the data migration strategy being followed. An unplanned migration can end up in multiple setbacks such as your business overshooting the budget.

What Should a Strategic Data Migration Plan Include and Why?

A strategic data migration plan ensures that the quality and format of the data don’t get compromised during the migration process. Following are the vital aspects of well-planned data migration –

• Before beginning with the migration process, it is important to be well acquainted with the form, location, and sensitivity of the data. Potential risks of format variation can be avoided with prior knowledge of these aspects.
• Depending upon the scale of work, the requirement of additional software or third-party services should be recognized.
• The data should be backed up prior to migration.
• The quality of the data should be maintained avoiding data degradation. This ensures that the credibility of the data sustains.
• The data should be closely monitored during the execution process.

Types of Data Migrations

There are three types of data migrations:

Benefits of Using APIs for Data Migration

Despite the general challenges that are faced while migrating data using APIs such as authentication errors during connecting APIs, data migration is considered more seamless with APIs.

• Efficiency – The APIs allow a smooth embedding of the content from applications and sites.
• Cost-Effectiveness – With APIs data can be migrated and integrated systems can be built. This enhances the functionality and lowers the cost.
• Flexibility – The REST API is ideally used for data integration for its flexibility and lenient security protocols, unlike the SOAP API.
• Automation – The process is fully automated with a fast approach and less requirement of human efforts.
• Adaptation – The customized APIs accelerate the process of system upgradation, thereby improving data migration and information viewability.

Data migration is one of the pivotal processes in an organization. It deals with the upgradation of the servers and the storage hardware. It also helps in adding the data-specific applications such as data lakes, data warehouses, etc. The APIs act as a medium to bridge the gaps between different technologies in this process. Considered as an effective and ideal migration tool, APIs stand as a significant aspect of data migration.