API: Everything You Need to Know

API: Everything You Need To Know

What is API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It’s a technique for two or more computer applications to communicate with one another A document or standard that explains how to create or utilize such a link or interface is known as an API specification. It is a form of software interface that provides connectivity to other software components. An API is stated to be implemented or exposed by a computer system that complies with this standard. The implementation or the specification are both included under the umbrella term API.

Explanation with Example

Suppose you want to send a Christmas gift to your friend who lives in a city far away from your. You don’t have the ability to go to that city and give it to your friend in person. So what do you do? You contact a courier service provider who has an office in the same town where your friend lives. They will deliver the gift to your friend on your behalf. API is like that courier service provider. It connects and passes data between two software components.

How does an API Work?

Step 1: An API call (also known as a request) is placed by a client application. This call consists of headers, a request verb, and occasionally a request body.
Step 2: The API’s uniform resource identifier (URI) is used to process this request for data retrieval from an application to the web server.
Step 3: Once the API receives a valid request, it places a call to the external server or application.
Step 4: The external server or application transmits the requested information back to the API. This is known as a response.
Step 5: The API sends the information to the client application that originally requested it.

Types of API

Depending on shape, size, and functionality, there are 4 types of API. Let’s discuss them.

Public API
Partner API
Internal API
Composite API

Public API

A public API, often known as an open API, is an application programming interface that is accessible to all software developers free of cost. Open APIs are made available for free sharing on the internet, enabling the provider of a network-accessible service to provide consumers with global access. Although there are many various approaches to building open APIs, all open APIs should prioritize being simply consumed and accessed by as many as developers possible.

Example of Public API

One of the most common examples of public API is the API that is used by google to give you weather forecasting. Google doesn’t have any weather forecasting service. They use public API by NASA to connect the weather forecasting and update.

Partner API

No matter whether it’s the software industry or medicine, better research opportunities will give you better business results. Now, what facilitates your research? Combining data and processing them precisely. You know what? No one does it better than AI. According to statistics, 87% of companies believe that AI will create a positive impact on their research and development sector.

Example of Partner API

The Amazon API is one of the most well-known partner APIs. It allows small businesses to get connected with Amazon directly & do business with them. This partner API creates a huge business opportunity and profit for both Amazon & small businesses.

Internal API

Internal APIs are application programming interfaces that are used by organizations to share and connect sensitive & confidential information internally. Internal APIs are used to increase productivity and reduce the time of internal operations. It’s a kind of backend process that ensures data interchange between internal departments without any external exposure.

Example of Internal API

One of the most common examples of internal API is the API that’s being used to connect the HR department with the finance department. Usually, an employee’s salary and other benefits are decided by the HR department and disbursed by the finance department. As these are confidential, companies use internal API to interchange the information between these two departments.

Composite API

In order to successfully integrate APIs into their applications, developers use a predefined set of calls and processes. The rules that govern how these calls are utilized and implemented are known as API Protocols. The protocols, among other things, define the allowed instructions and data formats, establishing a standard for API usage. Let’s discuss about some common types of API protocols.

API Protocols

Types of API Protocols

There are 7 common API protocols that developers are using. They are-

REST
XML-RPC
SOAP
JSON-RPC
GraphQL
Apache Thrift
gRPC

REST API

A RESTful API is an architectural style for an application program interface (API) that uses HTTP requests to access and use data. That data can be used to GET, PUT, POST and DELETE data types, which refers to the reading, updating, creating and deleting of operations concerning resources. RESTful API is an interface that two computer systems use to exchange information securely over the internet.

XML-RPC

SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. It’s a web communication protocol operates through XML. SOAP APIs are used to create, retrieve, update or delete records, such as passwords, accounts, leads, and custom objects, from a server.

SOAP API

JSON-RPC API

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation. It is designed to eliminate the need for an ad-hoc code for each application to communicate with servers that communicate in a defined way. It is used for lightweight data interchange (text-based data exchange format) between two computer applications operating on the same hardware device or between different computers in different geographical areas.

GRAPH QL

GraphQL is a query language and server-side runtime for application programming interfaces (APIs) that prioritizes giving clients exactly the data they request and no more. GraphQL is designed to make APIs fast, flexible, and developer-friendly.

Apache Thrift

Thrift is an interface definition language and binary communication protocol used for defining and creating services for numerous programming languages. It was developed at Facebook for “scalable cross-language services development” and as of 2020 is an open-source project in the Apache Software Foundation.

gRPC API

gRPC is a robust open-source RPC (Remote Procedure Call) framework used to build scalable and fast APIs. It allows the client and server applications to communicate transparently and develop connected systems. Many leading tech firms have adopted gRPC, such as Google, Netflix, Square, IBM, Cisco, & Dropbox.

Final Thoughts

API is a key component of the software development process. Whether you are a software developer or a business owner who wants to build software, you need to have a very clear understanding of API and how it works. APIs have a direct impact on your software performance, efficiency, & privacy. At TechCare, we integrate public API that matches with your business needs. Also, develop custom APIs based on your business needs & software. We have highly experienced custom API developers to help you. Feel free to contact us if you need to build any custom API or app development service.