What is an API and what are the advantages of using this service?
API — Application Programming Interface — is an interface that allows two unrelated systems to interact with each other. They serve as an intermediate layer that manages data transit between systems, sitting between an application and the web server.
An API allows companies to open up their application data and functionality to external developers, business partners, and internal departments. Through a defined interface, this enables services and products to interact with one another and benefit from each other’s data and capability.
In this post, we define an API, go over how they operate in real-world scenarios, and discuss the benefits your business may receive from utilizing this kind of service. Look it over!
How does an API work in practice?
Your computer runs a lot of programs that have user interfaces, usually with buttons you can click, icons you can move, and text fields you can fill in. Certain apps function by using the terminal as an interface, allowing the user to input commands in place of dragging or clicking buttons. Similar to an interface, an API is designed with programs in mind rather than users.
Of course, all computers are built for one user, but an API makes it easier for a human to write code that in turn controls the application behind the API. For humans, an API would be an inefficient and indirect way to use an application, but for computers, it is a convenient way to send signals and get meaningful data in return.
An API can be accessible locally or over a network, the largest being the Internet, and can be designed to accept input from any number of programming languages and protocols. APIs are commonly used for video game design, extending complex applications, and extracting data from websites and interacting with it.
What are the benefits of APIs for business?
Digital transformation is perhaps the most important commercial advantage of implementing APIs. Customers have extremely high expectations for digital experiences since they have access to greater computer power than ever before in their phones.
These new trends have led to a demand for interconnected experiences across channels. Customers expect to interact with brands seamlessly across web apps, mobile devices, desktop, text, voice, AI chatbots, and more. Data integration now requires cross-platform connectivity, and using APIs to do so is the most efficient and cost-effective method.
But APIs are more than just a path to data. In addition to improving the customer experience, developer ecosystems have the power to bring a number of business benefits. Some of these include:
- efficiency: API-based services can increase reusability while significantly reducing operational overhead;
- Networks of partners: APIs give partners an automated means of integrating with your data;
- Community development: Third-party developers can help spread brand awareness and increase audience size;
- regulatory: APIs are helping companies comply with new data sharing regulations, such as the LGPD.
These are just a few ways that APIs can help organizations respond and adapt to the rapidly changing digital landscape. In addition, companies that implement and consume APIs can expect some of the following benefits:
Saves costs
One of the biggest benefits of APIs for businesses is their ability to save money. Since APIs significantly reduce development effort, using them to build applications is a great way to cut costs.
With APIs, developers can get most of the functionality they need to build applications from somewhere else — without having to start from scratch. Instead of spending their precious resources and time reinventing the wheel, they can use cost-effective APIs from third-party vendors or use their own in-house APIs.
Improves connectivity and collaboration
Private or internal APIs can improve collaboration and internal communication within a company. The main functionality of APIs is connectivity — they allow different systems, applications, and platforms to connect and share data with each other and perform various types of functions.
Encourages innovation
Another important benefit of APIs is that they enable businesses to supercharge innovation . In today’s digital age, innovation plays a significant role in the success of organizations more than ever.
By utilizing APIs, businesses can swiftly adjust to client demands, develop new business opportunities, and deploy cutting-edge technology with minimal resources.
Creates new revenue opportunities
Another important aspect of APIs for your business is that they create new revenue opportunities. By monetizing APIs, you can unlock the value of your digital assets and discover new ways to expand your business growth.
If you expose functionality through an API, you can charge users (or use a revenue share formula) for consuming it. This is what you need to extract gold from your services and data and increase your organization’s profits.
How to create an API and use this type of service?
Each API is designed in a specific programming language and has several specifications that define it (these may include specifications for data and routine structures and object or variable classes, which are the pillars for using the interface). In addition, complete and efficient documentation is usually available for each API (a set of guides, manuals or rules of good practice).
Below are some types of APIs:
Web Service APIs
They are application programming interfaces used to exchange information between a web service (software that provides access to a concrete service through a URL) and an application.
Library-based APIs
These types of APIs allow an application to import a library from another software to exchange information. A good example of library-based APIs are those used in the web mapping industry — such as Google Maps.
APIs used for operating system functions
Software programs are constantly interacting with operating systems. This is an obvious statement. The truth is that this interaction is often accomplished through APIs. Operating systems like Windows have APIs that allow this communication between programs and the operating system.
The API-First Approach
Many companies start by building web or mobile applications. Given today’s development approaches, they also need to develop some APIs to enable web and mobile applications to consume the data. In most cases, the resulting APIs are not built and tested properly and are not intended to be used by third-party companies or for integration purposes.
An alternative route would be to build the API first, and then build your web or mobile applications on top of that API. This allows you to design an API and use it in your applications to make it more real and developer-friendly. By building internal applications on top of APIs with developers in mind, we are laying the foundation for others to build on.
With an API-first approach , you can ensure that you’re building a product for the future. This process creates reusable building blocks, future-proofing your business with assets that have a longer shelf life.
