📄PM in Napkins: Decoding API Jargon: A Restaurant Analogy
A restaurant analogy to explain this once for all
Last time I shared about this new project I’m working on, 𝗣𝗠 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗮𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀, where I break down complex Product Management concepts into simple, digestible visuals... on napkins! 🖍️
Here’s our previous napkin:
Today I’m tackling some technical jargon that gets tossed around in standup meetings...
Have you ever found yourself scratching your head at the mention of "APIs" in tech conversations?
Let's unravel this technical term with something we all understand and love: eating at a restaurant!
The Basics: User, Frontend, API, and Backend
Imagine walking into your favorite restaurant. You, the customer, are like a User who needs a service.
The menu you browse is like the Frontend of a website or app, showcasing the available options. When you decide on a dish and inform the waiter, that's like sending a Request through an API (Application Programming Interface). The kitchen represents the Backend, where all the magic happens to prepare your order.
The Technical Menu: Endpoint, REST, and HTTP Status Codes
Diving deeper, each specific dish on the menu is like an Endpoint, a distinct URL where an API can receive and send data.
The way waiters communicate in the restaurant – perhaps with phrases like "Order up!" or "Table 5's appetizer!" – is like the REST protocol, a set of rules for APIs. It involves methods like GET to retrieve data (like checking what's on the menu), POST to send new data (ordering your food), PUT to update existing data (changing your order), and DELETE to remove data (canceling an order).
When your order is placed, or when you ask, "How long for the risotto?", the waiter's response is similar to an HTTP Status Code. A cheerful "Coming right up!" is like a 2xx Success code, indicating all is well. A sheepish "Just a moment, we're confirming with the kitchen" might reflect a 3xx Redirection code, suggesting further action is needed. If you hear, "Oh, I’m sorry, we're out of salmon today," that's akin to a 4xx Client Error, meaning the request can't be fulfilled due to an issue on your end, like ordering something not on the menu. And if the kitchen is closed? That's a 5xx Server Error, indicating the problem is on the restaurant's end.
Advanced Ordering: Webhooks and GraphQL
Some restaurants have a bell in the kitchen to signal when a dish is ready. In the tech world, this is like a Webhook, a method for an app to provide other applications with real-time information when a certain event occurs like your dish is ready to serve.
Lastly, think of a scenario where you're curious about every ingredient in your dish or want to customize it. GraphQL is an advanced ordering system where you can ask for specific information or make complex requests, similar to asking for "the salad, but with no olives, extra cheese, and dressing on the side"… all at the same time.
That’s a wrap…
The process from picking a dish (sending a request via an API) to enjoying your meal (receiving the response) can be thought of as an interactive system where every player has a role. The efficiency of a restaurant's service can be a great parallel to understanding how APIs work in the digital world.
Next time you're out dining, remember how every step of your meal mirrors the intricate dance of requests and responses in the world of web services. Bon Appétit and Happy Coding!
I hope you enjoyed it🙂
Here’s the full napkin:
Stay tuned for more PM concepts simplified on napkins.
🙏 I'd love your support - like, share, and comment on your thoughts or concepts you'd like to see in this format.
Let's learn and grow together in the most fun way possible!