What is the API Full Form, and Why Use APIs?

The purpose of understanding the full form of API is to remove any confusion once and for all. For a newbie, there can be huge uncertainty regarding the acronym (some may wrongly call it Application Protocol Interface, for example!).

The API full form is Application Programming Interface. It acts as an intermediary between an application and a server. In programming terminology, API or Application Programming Interface is a collection of programming code where data is exchanged between one software product and another. 

This communication has two parties – one is client, and the other is server. It is crucial to understand this relationship when talking about API. 

So in the client-server relationship

• The client is the party that makes the request or sends the API call to the server.
• The server hosts the API and exposes a set of endpoints or interfaces that clients can interact with.

This kind of data transmission works on the request and response principle. In short, the client sends the request and the server responds. 

How API Works

To understand the meaning of API, you have to first know how it works. You must be using already without knowing it.   

For instance, you may use the Spotify app to search for songs or albums. The app sends the request for the search to the API of Spotify, which has relevant data. The API processes this request by searching the database of the vast music catalogue on the server and returning the matching results to the app. Then the app displays the result. 

Now, the Spotify API is not just used for searching. It can personalise each user’s song, album, or artist recommendations. 

Now that you caught on to the full form of API and how it works, you might be interested in taking a glance about programming as a fine domain.

Significance of API in Software Development and Business

Almost every app that you use comes with an API integration. An app without an API will not be able to provide a dynamic user experience. Let’s look into some core benefits for software developers and businesses. 

How APIs Help Software Developers

In software development, there are several advantages to using APIs. 

• Developers can use APIs to define rules on how systems can interact with each other. 
• They can reuse code by accessing rebuilt functions, modules, or services. This saves plenty of time. 
• Third-party developers can work with large organisations to build applications, services, or integrations on top of their platforms. This leads to an ecosystem of innovative apps that can extend the functionality and reach of the core platform. An example could be adding a payment gateway to an eCommerce website. 

How APIs Help Businesses

• API integration has helped several businesses to monetise. One of the biggest examples is eBay. Today the platform allows users to submit, sell, list, and display items. About 60% of its revenue comes from its API, according to HBR. 
• With API, a business can venture into new markets strategically can successfully. Partner businesses using IBM Watson API could scale up using it.  

Bloomfire is a platform based in the cloud that serves as a knowledge network. It assists employees within an organisation to effortlessly locate the information required for their tasks. This is possible through the Watson data insights API that automatically generates tags by scanning posts within the platform. This efficient system reduces the time spent on information searching for employees at companies like Whole Foods, Dun & Bradstreet, and Etsy. This enables them to dedicate more time to significant work that enhances the company’s performance.

APIs: Then, Now, and the Future

• 1950s: APIs were born as a way for computers to talk to each other.
• 1960s and 70s: APIs evolved to help computers, printers, and other devices communicate. They also started being used in databases.
• 1980s: APIs helped computers share information over networks, which was a big step towards the internet we know today.
• 1990s: With the rise of the internet, APIs became a way for different computer systems to exchange data.
• 2000s: Companies like Salesforce, eBay, and Amazon used APIs to offer new services over the internet. Amazon led the way in making APIs a key part of cloud computing.
• 2010s: APIs became crucial for social media and other web applications. They also helped companies integrate their systems with third-party services and cloud platforms.
• 2020s: APIs are now essential for devices connected to the internet (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). Developers now design APIs before building applications.

The future of APIs will focus on security, monitoring, and setting rules for how APIs are used and managed.

Do Not Confuse API with…

Software Development Kit (SDK)

An SDK can have an API. So, a software developer can develop an application using SDK tools around an API. 

An SDK is a package of tools, libraries, and resources that provides a development environment and pre-built components for building applications on a specific platform. 

In contrast, an API defines the rules and protocols for accessing and interacting with specific functionalities or data provided by an external service or system. 

The SDK is a comprehensive development kit, whereas the API is a defined interface for accessing specific services or data.

Web Services

APIs are a subset of web services, where APIs specifically define the rules and protocols for accessing and interacting with the services or data exposed by a system, whereas web services encompass the broader concept of enabling communication between applications over the web.

Types of API (Application Programming Interface)

Now that you have an idea of API, let's talk about its types.

REST (Representational State Transfer): REST API helps communicate over the web. It uses the common HTTP methods, such as GET to fetch information, POST to send new data, PUT to update existing data, and DELETE to remove it. 

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): SOAP API is like a well-structured email system for exchanging messages. It’s all about sending and receiving information securely, often using XML. SOAP is reliable for complex transactions. 

GraphQL: GraphQL API lets clients specify exactly what data they want. It's quite flexible and efficient and ideal for modern applications that require precise data.

gRPC: gRPC uses HTTP/2, which means quicker responses. It works well with many programming languages. This makes it a great choice for microservices, where different parts of an application need to communicate efficiently.

To Conclude on APIs

APIs have become essential for not just connecting applications, but also leading to innovation, and driving business growth across various industries