Difference between Public and Private APIs?

Updated Apr 28, 2026

Short answer

Public APIs are open to any developer; Private APIs are intended for internal use within an organization.

Deep explanation

API Design at the junior level focuses on standards and communication. Public APIs are open to any developer; Private APIs are intended for internal use within an organization. Following REST constraints ensures interoperability and ease of use.

Real-world example

A weather app fetching current temperature from a remote server.

Common mistakes

  • Using GET for operations that modify data.

Follow-up questions

  • What is a 201 status code?

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