What does API management involve?

API management involves a comprehensive set of practices that focus on creating, publishing, documenting, and overseeing APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). This management is crucial as APIs serve as the connectors between different software applications, allowing them to communicate with one another.

By developing and publishing APIs, organizations can expose their services for use by other developers or applications, which encourages innovation and integration. Documentation is essential in this process because it helps other developers understand how to use the API effectively, including its methods, parameters, and expected responses.

Additionally, overseeing APIs involves monitoring their usage and performance, ensuring security, managing access controls, and implementing versioning strategies. This holistic approach not only enhances the functionality and usability of APIs but also helps organizations maintain control over their data and services in a cloud environment.

In contrast, the other options encompass different areas unrelated to API management, such as mobile application development, market research, and software testing, which do not specifically address the lifecycle and governance of APIs.