Definition:
API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface. It is an access offered by some applications that allows access to a set of data of an application, through an API call. There are typically limitations on the amount of application data that is allowed to be accessed, and such communication must be done with that application’s specific language.
To help visualize this concept, an API can be imagined as the intermediary between the programmer and an application. This intermediary accepts the requests and, if this request is allowed, returns the requested data. This intermediary also has the function of informing programmers about everything they can request, exactly how to order and how to receive it.
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Examples of APIs
There are many applications that offer access to your data via API. Some of them are:
- Google Maps
- Amazon
- Ebay
- Flickr
- Yahoo
- Youtube
- Google Analytics
- Google Ads
APPLICATIONS of APIs
If we use an application that tells us how the traffic is or how long it takes the next bus to the next stop, we are probably using hybrid web applications or mashups that depend on open APIs to work and use the most accurate data. These are two good examples of how an open API can help in everyday life, but it is also important in business and within Digital Marketing.
Advantages of APIs
Among the advantages of APIs we can highlight:
- Companies build applications with APIS: These help build software and tools based on data extraction to simplify a business process.
- Business people use these apps: APIs allow programmers to build tools that make our businesses easier to carry.
- Companies rely on open APIs: this saves time and money, as developers build applications based directly on them.
Related Terms
