Secure API Manager automatically assigns three of the lifecycle stages. Those stages are created, published, and prototyped. These stages occur while you creating the APIs. You create a prototype API to provide early access and test the API.
When you create a REST API, the Publisher gives you the choice to deploy the REST API as a prototype or to import an existing REST API. If you have a SOAP API or a WebSocket API, you can define sandbox endpoints to create a prototype an API. For more information see, Section 3.0, Creating and Publishing APIs.