Introduction to APIs: The ultimate Digital Bridge

In the world of developers, APIs are one of the most used technology.

But what is API actually?

API stands for Application Programming Interface.

API is the bridge that allows different software applications to communicate with each other.

Developers need this technology in every area, be it web development, app development, cloud computing, machine learning, cybersecurity, Internet of Things(IoT) etc.

Why do developers use API?

An API allows different software applications to communicate with each other by sending and receiving data in a structured format, usually over the internet. When a client makes a request to an API, it sends specific data(API key) to a server, which processes the request and returns the appropriate response. APIs enable developers to integrate third-party services without building everything from scratch.

APIs reduce manual work which leads to saving cost and time, leading to faster development of applications and easier user experience.

Like when we ask a specific location in google, it doesn't build the map from scratch. Google search fetches google map API and let us know the proper location.

There are various types of API like REST, SOAP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket etc.

By connecting different and diverse applications, API makes it easier to build complex systems smoothly.

They are the reason why even in today's development APIs remain the primary standard in software development.