APIs have become indispensable in modern IT. They connect systems, accelerate processes, and make it easier for teams to build digital products and services. No surprise, then, that many organizations are adopting an API strategy to bring structure to the system and enable more targeted development.
But criticism sometimes arises just as quickly: "Aren't we just encouraging more sprawl with this API strategy?" More interfaces, more complexity, more chaos?
The truth is: API sprawl doesn’t come from having an API strategy – it usually comes from not having one. In many organizations, there are already plenty of APIs: a microservice here, a project backend there, an integration tool somewhere else, or a point-to-point connection that rules out reuse from the start. Many of these interfaces are undocumented, undiscoverable, and lack clear ownership. Missing standards, heterogeneous protocols, and fragile integrations complete the picture. In short: the APIs exist – but no one has a clear view of them.
And even when there is a strategy, things don’t always run smoothly. Teams are often told to be "API-first," and there are goals for the number of published APIs – but no one asks why. Which APIs actually create value? Who takes care of them once they’re live? If these questions remain unanswered, activity may increase – but direction does not.
This is where API platforms come into play. They provide visibility, establish structure, and help steer an organization’s API ecosystem effectively. They reveal what's already there and enable responsible handling. And they support a mindset that's becoming increasingly important: API Thinking – seeing APIs as products with a clear target audience, purpose, and ownership.
What Is API Sprawl, and Why Is It a Problem?
"API Sprawl" might sound like a buzzword from an IT strategy slide deck, but it reflects a very real issue: an uncontrollably growing number of APIs that few people have an overview of – let alone manage.
Typical symptoms include:
- Duplicate APIs: Two teams independently build nearly identical APIs – because they don't know about each other or have no visibility into what already exists.
- Unclear ownership: An API is in production, but no one knows who's responsible for it or whether it's even still in use.
- Missing or outdated documentation: The API exists, but no one can use it because there are no examples or descriptions – or the documentation no longer matches the current version.
- No central visibility: APIs are running in production but aren't listed in any shared catalog. Anyone who wants to reuse something must dig around first – or just start from scratch.
- Technological fragmentation: Different standards, authentication mechanisms, and design conventions make it hard to use or integrate APIs consistently.
- No sundowning plan: Outdated APIs remain online for safety reasons – simply because no one knows whether they’re still being used somewhere.
This can get expensive. Not just because it complicates operations, but also because it slows down innovation. When developers lack a reliable overview of existing APIs, they’d rather build something new – and the cycle begins again.
So sprawl isn’t just a technical problem. It’s about responsibility, transparency, and good collaboration. That’s why it’s not enough to simply call for APIs to be "strategic" – they need a framework to prevent them from growing in the dark. It’s crucial to understand: this isn’t just a tech issue. It’s about organization, communication, and accountability. Without clear documentation, ownership, and visibility, there's no foundation for collaboration – and fragmentation only grows.
How API Platforms Help You Regain Control
When APIs are created from all directions – by different teams, for different purposes, often without central coordination – something is needed to bring order. This is where API platforms come in.
A good API platform is much more than just a technical tool. It acts as the operating system for how an organization manages APIs. It ensures that APIs don't just exist somewhere but are visible, usable, and governable.
Here’s what that means in practice:
- Central visibility: The platform provides a central API catalog where all APIs are registered – including descriptions, contacts, usage guidelines, and status info. This creates transparency across the API landscape.
- Versioning and lifecycle management: The platform helps manage API versions, decommission outdated interfaces (sundowning), and release new ones. This keeps things tidy and prevents legacy buildup.
- Access control: Who can use which API? The platform integrates role and permission concepts to centrally control access – via API keys, OAuth, or other authentication mechanisms.
- Monitoring: API usage can be tracked in real time – including calls, latency, error rates, and other metrics. This helps with operations, optimization, and decision-making.
- Governance: Good platforms define clear rules for how APIs should be designed, documented, and published. For example: What naming conventions apply? What must be included in the catalog? What belongs in the documentation? These standards give teams orientation and ensure consistency – without stifling creativity.
- Policy enforcement: And to make sure these rules aren't just theoretical, the platform helps enforce them automatically – through CI/CD pipeline checks, automated OpenAPI spec validations, or approval workflows before an API goes live. This keeps quality high – without finger-wagging.
- Self-service for teams: Development teams can register, configure, version, and document APIs independently – without relying on centralized gatekeepers.
- Automated processes: Many platforms integrate seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines. This enables automated API validation, publishing, or archiving – including security checks and style guide enforcement.
- Developer onboarding: A good developer portal makes APIs accessible: with clear documentation, examples, test tools, SDKs, and support options. This lowers the barrier to entry – internally and externally.
- Lifecycle support: The platform supports APIs from idea to development and use to deprecation – including traceability and communication with users.
And this doesn’t just apply to external APIs. Internal interfaces especially benefit from platforms that improve visibility, prevent redundancy, and clarify responsibilities.
Best Practices for Managing API Sprawl
API sprawl can’t be completely avoided – and that’s okay. As teams grow, new requirements emerge, and products evolve, an organization’s API landscape will naturally expand. The key isn’t to prevent sprawl, but to manage it wisely.
Here’s what helps:
- Sharpen strategy and goals: APIs shouldn’t exist for their own sake. There needs to be a clear understanding of their purpose, audience, and contribution to value creation. With a clear goal, APIs gain substance – instead of just hitting meaningless numeric targets.
- Establish API governance: No direction without a framework. Guardrails like naming conventions, documentation standards, and minimum security requirements help ensure quality and consistency – and prevent a sense of chaotic sprawl.
- API Thinking over just tooling: Great APIs don’t come from tools alone – they come from the right mindset. When building an API, treat it like a product. What's the concrete value? Who is the target group? How can the experience be made as simple and clear as possible for consumers? This "API Thinking" ensures APIs are usable, understandable, and relevant over the long term – regardless of their technical format.
- Foster a culture of ownership: APIs need ownership. Whoever builds an API is also responsible for its maintenance – technically, functionally, and communicatively. Clear ownership builds reliability and trust.
- Actively manage API usage: Which APIs are used how often? Where are errors occurring? Which ones have been abandoned for months? Gathering and leveraging this data enables informed decisions – to retire, optimize, or reprioritize APIs.
- Maintain API catalogs and developer portals: A living API catalog isn’t a spreadsheet – it’s a collaboration tool. With search, filters, clear descriptions, and contact options, it becomes truly helpful – and prevents redundancy.
Conclusion: API Sprawl Isn’t Inevitable – Platforms Make the Difference
Yes, APIs can get out of hand. And yes, the wrong strategy or a lack of governance can quickly lead to chaos. But the key isn’t to avoid APIs – it’s to design them with intent, make them visible, and manage them actively.
An API platform isn’t an end in itself. It’s a tool that brings structure without slowing innovation. It provides clarity, promotes responsibility, and helps teams develop better APIs faster and more sustainably – internally and externally.
And perhaps most importantly: A good API strategy doesn’t encourage more sprawl – it helps get existing sprawl under control. With platforms, clear goals, and the courage to go beyond just counting APIs and instead focus on using them wisely.
Ultimately, it’s not just about tools – it’s about mindset. Teams that treat APIs like products create long-term value and usable interfaces. That’s the real difference between API sprawl and a successful API landscape.
