Glossary · Types of monitoring
API monitoring checks that an API endpoint is reachable, answers with the right status code and data, and does so fast enough, by sending real requests on a schedule.
An API check sends a request with the method, headers and body the endpoint expects, often with an authentication token, then checks the answer: the status code, response headers and fields in the JSON body, such as $.status being ok or a list not being empty.
Many failures only show across several calls: logging in, using the token, creating and reading back a record. Chaining requests and passing values between them tests the API the way a client uses it.
A dedicated health check endpoint that tests the database and other dependencies, without side effects, is the cheapest thing to monitor every minute.
Uptimecheck API monitors send GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD or OPTIONS requests with up to 20 headers and a body, and check the status, up to 10 JSON and header conditions, and a keyword. Multi-step flows chain requests and pass values such as a token between steps, with passwords stored encrypted, and responses slower than your limit send a slow alert.
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Guides 5 min read
An API can return 200 and still be broken. A practical checklist for API monitoring: methods, headers, request bodies, authentication, expected responses and response time thresholds.
ReadGuides 7 min read
A health check endpoint tells monitors and load balancers whether your app can serve requests. What to check, how to keep it fast and safe, code for Laravel, Express and Flask, and how to monitor it.
Read200 with a small JSON body when the service and its critical dependencies work, and 503 when they don’t. Keep it fast and free of side effects.
Send the token or API key as a header in the check. Use a dedicated key with read-only access, so the check’s settings can’t do harm if they leak.
Every minute for APIs customers depend on, and every 5 to 15 minutes for internal or less critical ones.
Set up your first monitor in under a minute, or look around the live demo first.
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