So What is an API?
As a professional web developer I’ve been asked this question a lot over my career so far, lets explore in the article below what they are and what they can do.
Application Programming Interface (API) rules define how two software programmes should communicate with one another. It enables communication between various software programmes and is frequently used to provide one programme access to another program’s features. APIs can be used to enable communication between various software programmes as well as between the various parts of a single software programme.
APIs are a crucial component of contemporary software development and are utilised in practically every sector, including e-commerce, healthcare, and finance. They provide up a variety of opportunities for innovation and cooperation by enabling enterprises to share data and functionality with outside parties in a secure and controlled manner.
APIs can be used for a number of functions, including data retrieval, record creation or update, and action triggering, and are often created to be accessed via the internet using industry-standard protocols like HTTP. They can also be used to make an application’s functionality available to other developers so that they can create their own applications that communicate with it.
There are many different kinds of APIs, including web APIs, which may be accessed online, and local APIs, which are used for inter-device communication between software applications. APIs can be public, in which case anyone can use them, or they can be private, requiring authentication.
By utilising the functionality of already-existing programmes and services, developers can save time and money while concentrating on creating their own core competencies. They also give enterprises the option to carefully reveal their information and functionality to outsiders, encouraging innovation and teamwork.
Example One – Weather App:
On your phone, you’re utilising a weather app. You may be able to view the prediction for the following week in addition to the app’s ability to display the local weather at the moment. The app sends a request to a server that contains all of the weather data in order to obtain this information. The data is returned by the server, and the app shows it to you.
Through an API, the app communicates with the server. The server responds with the information that the app requested once the app sends a request to a particular “endpoint” (sort of like a unique phone number). The app only needs to know that if it sends the proper request, it will receive the data it requires. It is not necessary for the app to understand how the server stores or obtains the data.
Example Two – Coffee Shop Locator Website
Consider developing a website that displays a map of your city. You should add a function that displays where each city’s coffee shops are located. You could try to locate a map with this information already included, but it might not have all the coffee shops or it might not be in the appropriate format.
Instead, you may make use of an API offered by a firm that has a database of every enterprise in the city. You would ask their server to send you the addresses of all the coffee shops. The list of all the coffee shops together with their addresses would then be returned by the server. After that, you might utilise this data to display markers on your website’s map.
Conclusion
In general, APIs are a crucial component of contemporary software development and are crucial for facilitating interaction and collaboration across various software systems.