Self-Hosted APIs
Self-hosted APIs are application programming interfaces that are deployed and managed on an organization's own infrastructure, such as on-premises servers or private clouds, rather than using third-party cloud services. This approach gives developers full control over the API's environment, security, data handling, and performance, allowing for customization and compliance with specific organizational requirements. It contrasts with managed or SaaS APIs, where the hosting and maintenance are handled by external providers.
Developers should consider self-hosted APIs when they need to maintain strict data sovereignty, comply with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, or integrate with legacy on-premises systems that cannot be moved to the cloud. This is common in industries such as finance, healthcare, and government, where security and control are paramount. It also allows for fine-tuning performance and costs by leveraging existing infrastructure, though it requires more hands-on management compared to cloud-based alternatives.