If you are working for a technological industry or even a technology enthusiast then you must have gotten to know about the term API. In the current economical world, the API is playing a major role in the economy than ever. Everything we use daily is having API integrated into them. Even when we are logging into Facebook, booking tickets, making payments through any payment app, we are using API multiple times in our daily life.
Apart from these useful functionalities of API, there are a few of the apps which are also using API such as translation apps and gaming apps. If you are looking for API development then you need to completely explore the world of API. In this article, we will probably discuss API development along with various other factors which are included in this topic.
Table of Contents
Definition of API:
Application programming interface which is commonly known as API is a set of standards, instructions, requirements which will enable any software or application to have services and functionalities to be offered a better service in a device or platform. It is the set of programming code that will fully allow the transmission of data between one software to another at ease. The application programming interface is having two different components.
- The software interface is written for the specification which will it represent.
- And the technical specification is described to have the data exchange between solutions which will complete the specification along with data delivery protocol and the processing of the request.
Any software which is having the requirement for the access of functionality and information will call for the API to specify the requirement and how the functionality of the data should be delivered. The software will give back the data functionality which is being requested by the previous application. It will also specify the interface with which both of the applications will communicate in a manner.
Every API will be needed for functioning different language statements and calls which is being requested by the software for a particular service or action. To properly describe the function calls it is the phrases that will include verbs and nouns. It is the API documentation which is commonly known as function calls. API will be offering various services along with simplifying the software development and speeding up the process. Every software developer will use API to integrate various functionalities to the providers in any existing solution. Most importantly it can be used for developing new applications using any third-party provider.
Also read : API Development: A Complete Guide is a comprehensive guide on API development
Types of API:
Every API needs to be categorized based on their release policy which we have listed below for you.
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Partner APIs:
Partner APIs are the software integration between two different parties. They will also share and openly promote the business partners who have signed agreements along with the publisher. The company will have extra revenue income by granting the partner and the capability benefits to access the data. They can also easily monitor and have the exposed digital asset for usage. It will also ensure the third-party solution along with the API offerings of user experience. You will get ensured the maintenance of corporate identity in the apps.
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Public APIs:
Any developer or external-facing software integration is required to have a public API. This type of API is mostly available for 3rd party developers. Any public API program will give the ability to increase brand awareness. This will allow the generation of extra revenue if it is being properly executed into the software. Every public API can be divided into two different categories. The first category is open to all and the second one is entirely commercial.
According to the open API, it will have the entire features available to the public which can be used without any restriction on usage including their terms and conditions. It also confirms that all the related documentation and description of the API will be available along with the integration. It can be easily tested and used for creating applications for free. In the case of commercial API, the user needs to pay the subscription fee for using the API.
Although the publishers will have the ability to get free trials to enable access to the users they need to purchase the subscription.
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Private APIs:
The interface of this software is specially designed for improving the solution and services within the organization. Any in-house developer or contractor can easily use the API for building any new system. The interface of the app will remain available only for such people who are working along with the API publisher even if the app is available publicly. Due to this private strategy, the company will have complete control of the API usage
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Composite API:
this is the special kind of API which is the combination of different data and services of API. They are completely made out of all the existing API functions to offer functionality is to be performed in a single call. This will initially boost the execution speed also enhance the performance of the web interface.
Working process of APIs:
To properly understand the working process of the API we need to have an example to understand it better. Consider that we need to open a website or app for certain functionalities. We need to fill in various details including our details to have our respective feedback. Once we completely submit the details all the list of required data will be available on the screen. To get accurate data every platform needs to send the request to the website to access the database which will offer the relevant data using the API. Then the website will respond according to the data and deliver it using the API to the platform. API is the medium that will streamline the sharing process of data from one end to another. While communicating to the endpoints the API works in two different ways which are known as SOAP and REST.
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