API management is the process of overseeing the interfaces through which software applications communicate, encompassing activities aimed at ensuring the efficient operation of APIs throughout their lifecycle. It involves several stages including design, development, deployment, and maintenance, with key features such as API gateways, authentication and authorization, protection, design and development tools, developer portals, security and governance. Effective API management supports each stage by abstracting away complexity, standardizing schema and access procedure, enforcing policies that ensure security and regulatory compliance, and enhancing the developer experience through streamlined integration and APIs. Benefits of API management include improved security, anomaly detection, enhanced developer experience, performance scalability, increased operational efficiency, high availability and resiliency, and data privacy and compliance. Various tools are available for organizations to improve their API integration strategy, including Google Apigee, Apache JMeter, SoapUI, IBM API Connect Test & Monitor, Amazon API Gateway, Azure API Management, and CData Connect Cloud, which functions as a centralized connectivity hub that simplifies the integration of disparate systems and applications.