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What Is an Api (Application Programming Interface)?
9 months ago
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What Is an Api (Application Programming Interface)?

What are APIs?

API is an abbreviation for "Application Programming Interface". By exposing software functions and management data to the outside, API is a mechanism that allows functions to be shared with other external software. That's it.

By linking through API, you can extend application functions and use the corresponding functions from your own applications and services. When people use a computer, they use the OS and application functions through the GUI (Graphical User Interface), so when programming, software is developed using the GUI. On the other hand, APIs are used when using existing libraries in software development, and by describing processing according to the prepared APIs, you can use the functions of the library without knowing the contents of the library.

API functions

APIs allow you to take advantage of functionality provided by other products and services without knowing how they are implemented. It also simplifies software development, making it possible to reduce development costs and improve maintainability.API is a function that can easily realize connection with in-house application development, but it is also used as a means of sharing the data to be used with external users. As a typical example, the Google Maps API has a mechanism that allows you to post company location and store information as map data on your own site, and you can realize the function of sharing information with external users.

API type

The concept of API differs from the API used on the Web, depending on the protocol specifications.

OpenAPI

Refers to connection specifications and mechanisms for calling and using application functions and data from other applications. API for publishing to other users.

PartnerAPI

This is an API that is open to the public only for developers who have registered as users. For example, Amazon publishes "Selling Partner API (SP-API)" only for registered users.

ClosedAPI

It is an API that is used within a company or group company without being disclosed to the outside, or an API that is used only for business purposes within a partner company that has a business alliance.

Composite API

It is an API that can access multiple web applications and other APIs with one API linkage.

WebAPI

WebAPI refers to an API that enables API interaction over the Web using the HTTP protocol. WebAPI includes REST (REpresentational State Transfer) and SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol).

What is REST?

REST, short for REpresentational State Transfer, is a design model for web services. It is not a protocol but consists of four principles common to the whole world.

  • Principle 1: Addressability

    • All information can be expressed in one URL

  • Principle 2: Statelessness

    • All requests are completely separated and communication is completed once

  • Principle 3: Connectivity

    • Including links to other information in the information

  • Principle 4: Unified Interface

    • Unification of interfaces

* Acquisition of information (GET), creation (POST), modification (PUT), deletion (DELETE), etc.

APIs made according to these REST principles are REST APIs (RESTful APIs). When an HTTP request (request) is made in the REST API, the processing is performed according to the request on the server side, and JSON (JavaScript Object Notation), HTML, XLT, Python, PHP, or plain text format is sent to the endpoint. will be sent with

What is SOAP?

SOAP is an abbreviation for Simple Object Access Protocol, a protocol that uses XML format for HTTP requests and responses to exchange data. REST is an architecture while SOAP is a protocol.

Advantages of APIs

Efficient development

Using APIs eliminates the need to develop software from scratch, so development can proceed more efficiently. In addition, since the time and man-hours required for development can be reduced by streamlining development, cost reduction effects can be expected. Even if you develop your company from scratch and deploy a service, you will still need to deal with bugs and errors, use functions, and upgrade the product EOL. It can be said that the development cost can be reduced.

can improve security

By linking the API, it is also possible to use the login authentication function for another application. Security can be improved by introducing a dedicated API with a high existing security level.

You can easily obtain the latest information

By using the API, you can obtain and use the latest information on various services. For example, if you sell Amazon products on your own website, you can automatically update the selling price on Amazon by linking with the API provided by Amazon. This makes it possible to quickly provide services that meet user needs.

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