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API stands for Application Programming Interface, acting as middleware allowing 2 applications to communicate. Every time you use applications like Facebook, instant messaging apps, or check the weather on your phone, you are essentially using an API. If you're still curious about what API is, let's explore it with Mytour below.
What is API (Application Programming Interface)? Learn about API.
Examples of APIs
When using mobile applications, they connect to the Internet and send data to servers. The server then retrieves, interprets, and performs necessary actions on the data before sending it back to your device. The application interprets the data and displays readable information for you. And this is called an API.
To explain further, refer to the example below:
Imagine you're in a restaurant, and the menu offers a variety of dishes for you to choose from. The kitchen is part of the system, preparing the dishes you order. What's missing here is the person to convey your order to the kitchen and bring the food out to you. That's the waiter, or you could say, the API. The waiter relays your requests to the kitchen and brings the food out to you.
Additionally, APIs also provide a security layer
The data on your phone never directly interacts with the server, and similarly, the server never interacts with your phone. Instead, the devices communicate with small packets of data, only sharing what's necessary, much like placing an order. When you tell the restaurant staff what dishes you'd like to eat, they relay your request to the kitchen and bring the food out to you.
APIs become more valuable, accounting for a significant portion of businesses' revenue. Major companies like Google, eBay, Salesforce.com, Amazon, and Expedia are just a few making money from APIs. What the 'API economy' refers to is the market of APIs.
Modern APIs
For many years, APIs have been described as a common connection interface with applications. Recently, modern APIs have added some new features, making them more useful:
- Modern APIs adhere to standards (often HTTP and REST), are easy to use, access, and understand. Refer to the article What is HTML5 here
- These APIs are handled more like products than code. They are designed for specific user groups (such as mobile device developers) and have versions for users and maintain their lifecycle.
- Because APIs are more standardized, security and management issues are also stricter, as well as tracking and managing performance, scalability.
- Similar to other software products, modern APIs also have their own Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) from design, testing, building, managing, and versions. Additionally, modern APIs are documented for users and versions.
So the article on Mytour just explained what API is and provided you with the features of modern APIs. Just like APIs, many readers are also wondering what SQL is, a very popular database system that any programmer needs. If you have any questions or uncertainties, readers can leave their comments below, and Mytour will answer your questions as soon as possible.
