An API gateway exposes a RESTful (or similar) interface over HTTPS, allowing clients to programmatically push configuration changes, retrieve status, and control access points in real time. While a web interface also uses HTTPS, it's typically user-interactive (browser-based) rather than scriptable or easily automatable. A command-line interface might be available via SSH, but that's not over HTTPS and is less suited to real-time web integration. SNMP is for monitoring and limited configuration but is not natively tunneled over HTTPS and doesn't provide the same modern programmability.