Application programming interface (API)

Introduction:-

API acronym for application programming interface, which is a set of routines and protocols for building and integrating applications. API is the software responsible for the connection for the communication and information exchange between two apps.

A developer extensively uses API's in his software to implement various features by using an API call without writing the complex codes for the same. We can create an API for an operating system, database system, hardware system, JavaScript (JS) file, or similar object-oriented files.

The Modern API

API has been described as a connectivity interface for an application. However, modern API has different characteristics that have made it more valuable. These are described below;

• They adhere to standards that are friendly, easy to access and understand.
• They are specific in their design, hence can be consumed by a specific audience such as mobile developers.
• The design of these APIs is such that they are meant to fulfill certain expectations of maintenance and lifecycle.
• As they are more standardized, they are more disciplined for security and performance.
• They act as a product rather than the code as a product software has its software development lifecycle (SDLC) of testing, managing, designing, building, and versioning. Additionally, modern APIs are very well documented.

Types of API

1. Open APIs, which any developer can access.
2. Partner APIs, which only authorized developers may access.
3. Internal APIs, which only internal teams may access.
4. Composite APIs, which combine multiple APIs.

API architectures:

• REST is a collection of guidelines for lightweight, scalable web APIs.It makes use of HTTP to GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE data. It is basically used to take advantage of the existing data.
• SOAP is a stricter protocol for more secure APIs.
• RPC is a protocol for invoking processes that can be written with XML or JSON.

Advantages of API

1. Bookings (Movies, flight, bus tickets, etc.)
2. Bots
3. Payments etc.