What is Web API and its Types?

What is API

The name API stands for Application Programming Interface, a kind of software gateway that enables two programs to communicate with one another. When you’re using a mobile application, the program establishes a connection to the Internet and transmits data to a server. The server then receives the data, processes it, takes the appropriate steps, and delivers it back to your smartphone. After that, the program analyses the data and displays the information you requested in a presentable form. And that is what an API is – for example, when you check the weather on your smartphone, run social media application, or access your bank, all of this happens via API.

What is a Web API?

A Web API is a web-based application programming interface. Browsers support web APIs. They have the potential to simplify difficult functions significantly. They may be used to simplify the syntax of complicated programs. Browser APIs allow for the extension of a web browser’s capabilities. Server APIs may be used to enhance a web server’s capabilities. Web APIs enable developers to enhance the functionality of their applications or websites.

Web APIs enable the exchange of machine-readable data and functionality across web-based systems that use client-server architecture. These APIs are primarily used to exchange data between web applications and servers using the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Most browsers have a collection of built-in Web APIs to facilitate complicated operations and data access. For instance, the Geolocation API may provide the browser's coordinates.

Web API Types

Open APIs, sometimes called Public APIs, are freely accessible to developers and other users. They may be open, need signup, or require an API access Key. They are geared for external users to facilitate data or service access.
APIs accessible between business partners are referred to as partner APIs. They are not publicly accessible and need special authorization to access. As is the case with open APIs, partner APIs are also the most visible and interact outside the business's borders. They are often provided through a public API developer site through which developers may self-serve. While open APIs are open, access to partner APIs requires an integration procedure with a unique validation method.
Internal APIs, also known as private APIs, are unavailable to external users and are only accessible to internal systems. Internal APIs are not intended for distribution outside of the organization but for various internal project teams to increase efficiency and service reuse. A sound governance procedure entails providing an internal API web interface that communicates with the interior IAM systems to authorize and enable individuals to use the appropriate APIs.
Composite APIs are a collection of data or service APIs. They are created utilizing an API generation tool's orchestration features. They let developers make a single call to several destinations. Composite APIs are advantageous when information from several services is required to complete a single job, such as in a microservices architectural pattern.

Apart from the distinction between internal, partner, open, and composite APIs, another way for API classification is as follows:

Data Web APIs

Data APIs provide CRUD operations on underlying data sets for a variety of databases and SaaS cloud providers. These APIs are required to provide specific core data from SaaS services, which is accomplished via SaaS connectors or internal data storage. Similarly, Internal service APIs expose internal services, operate as a reflection of internal processes, or perform specific sophisticated tasks.

Moreover, Service rendered externally APIs are third-party services that may be integrated into an organization's current services to offer value. Furthermore, APIs concerning user experience use composite APIs to assist developers in providing the optimal experience for each device (desktop, mobile, tablet, VPA, IoT).

REST APIs

REST API contains two main parts a RESTful and an API. An API is an interface via which one application or website interacts with another. They are used to exchange data and services, and they exist in many different forms and kinds. A RESTful API is one of the many alternative methods that programs, servers, and websites may communicate data and services.

REST (Representational State Transfer) outlines the basic guidelines for how the data and services are represented via the API so that other programs can appropriately request and receive the data and services that an API makes accessible. REST employs HTTP, the protocol used by a browser to receive web pages from a server, to represent resources. The most available resource for most people is a webpage. Still, resources may be anything you can describe via the web. In addition to websites, you can use this to communicate data such as shipment arrival information, time information, purchase information...the list is as broad as you can think.

In conclusion, APIs have a far more prominent role when viewed from software development and a business cooperation perspective. These machine-readable interfaces for resource exchange function similarly to delivery services, enabling the necessary technical connections. The majority of company executives agree on the essential nature of API integration to their company strategy. Businesses often prefer to collaborate using APIs. Business leaders and developers must work closely together to identify an appropriate API for their company's unique business requirements and understand how to utilize it successfully.

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