What is an API and how does it work?

"What went well: The live coding and system architecture rounds went smoothly. I was able to articulate my design choices clearly, especially around API design, database strategy, and maintaining high availability for microservices. What didn’t go well: The initial behavioral portion felt slightly rushed because we spent extra time discussing specific cross-functional project dynamics from my previous roles. How does this interview compare to other interviews you've done? It was significantly more interactive. Rather than giving static answers, the interviewers actively challenged my assumptions and asked "what if" scenarios, making the evaluation feel comprehensive and realistic to day-to-day work."

"The process was highly structured and intellectually demanding, spanning five distinct rounds that tested engineering fundamentals, product design, strategy, and leadership. It felt more rigorous than many standard big-tech interviews because it required a deep dive into Okta’s specific ecosystem, particularly the Okta Integration Network (OIN) and its technical nuances."

"Recruiter was good at communicating throughout and the interviewers seemed really engaged in the process. Excitable about their space. There is a product design portion where, given a prompt and UX snippet, users are asked to design a solution to the prompt. You are given about 30 min and then are grilled on that. There’s a basic analysis portion ensuring you can read basic data and infer decisions."