How to Monitor Your REST APIs

APIs are the heart of many modern applications. A failing API can block an entire service.

This guide shows you how to configure effective monitoring for your API endpoints.

Types of APIs to Monitor

MoniTao can monitor different types of APIs:

• REST API - Standard GET, POST, PUT, DELETE endpoints
• Health Checks - /health or /status endpoints of your services
• Third-party APIs - Services you depend on (Stripe, Twilio...)

Configuration

Configure your API monitor in a few steps:

Step 1: Choose the Endpoint

Select an endpoint representative of your API's health (ideally a health check).

Step 2: Configure Authentication

If your API requires authentication, add the necessary headers:

# Exemple de configuration avec header d'authentification
URL: https://api.example.com/v1/health
Method: GET
Headers:
  Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN
  Content-Type: application/json

Step 3: Validate the Response

Optionally, verify the response contains expected text like "healthy" or "ok".

Content Validation

Beyond HTTP 200 code, validate response content to detect application errors:

# Reponse API typique
{
  "status": "healthy",
  "version": "2.1.0",
  "uptime": 99.9
}

# Texte a verifier: "healthy" ou "status"

Frequently Asked Questions