2024 State of API Report

API collaboration

Image to illustrate the statistic API documentation. Illustration.

44% of developers dig through source code to understand APIs, but over half collaborate with product managers, QA, and designers who can’t always interpret the code.

Quote

For me, one of the most exciting things about Postman is that it is extremely accessible and welcoming for product managers. It's a well-thought-out platform. With Postman, we are able to more easily make APIs available to the world.

Marco Wirasinghe, Head of Product and Developer Experience, WhatsApp Business Platform

Collaboration challenges: The hidden bottleneck

Despite faster production, developers still face hurdles when collaborating on APIs. Documentation issues, complex requests, and unclear variables can delay public and private API integration. Inconsistent onboarding processes can extend the time it takes to get started on even the simplest API use cases.

Image to illustrate the statistic API collaboration. Illustration.

58% of developers rely on internal documentation, but 39% say inconsistent docs are the biggest roadblock.

Illustration of a lightbulb inside a box, symbolizing innovation.

Pro tip

Postbot now generates comprehensive API documentation with a single click, saving developers hours of manual work and keeping docs up-to-date.
Image to illustrate the statistic API documentation understanding. Illustration.

44% of developers dig through source code to understand APIs, but over half collaborate with product managers, QA, and designers who can't always interpret the code.

Illustration of a lightbulb inside a box, symbolizing innovation.

Pro tip

Postman Workspaces enable smooth collaboration by centralizing API-related information, saving time across the board.
Image to illustrate the statistic API explanation. Illustration.

43% of developers rely on colleagues to explain APIs. What if that colleague is in a different time zone or on vacation? This can cause frustrating delays.

Illustration of a lightbulb inside a box, symbolizing innovation.

Pro tip

Postman Workspaces store critical API information where the work happens, enabling asynchronous collaboration.