What is an advantage of using a Self-Hosted API?

Using a self-hosted API allows organizations to maintain full control over the management and deployment of their API services. This autonomy enables businesses to customize the API according to their specific requirements, including the choice of technology stack, infrastructure configuration, and security protocols. Such control ensures that the API can be optimized for performance, security, and compliance with organizational standards. Furthermore, developers can implement updates, changes, or enhancements on their schedule, which can be crucial for dynamic environments where agility is important.

The other options highlight scenarios that are typically associated with managed API services rather than self-hosted solutions, such as reduced operational overhead (managed by third parties) or automatic scaling capabilities that are often features of cloud-based solutions. Hence, the choice for full control aligns clearly with the nature of self-hosting as it emphasizes ownership and flexibility.