According to MITRE, the most common form of API (application programming interface) misuse occurs when the caller does not honor its end of a contract. In the context of this article, a "contract" refers to a formal, precise agreement that outlines the expected behaviors, inputs, outputs, and side effects that an API guarantees to any caller, ensuring that both the API and its clients adhere to specified constraints and usages. This concept is crucial in preventing misuse by clearly defining the boundaries and requirements for both parties involved in the interaction. This blog post explores contract programming and specifically how that applies to the building, maintenance, and security of APIs.
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