Full Form of API

Application Program Interface or API is a code that allows communication between two software programs. API is a set of software methods and functionalities. API, in its simplest form, refers to executable or accessible software code. API is described as a code that enables two software applications to communicate and share data.

It provides goods and services for communicating with other products and services without requiring knowledge of their implementation.

Introduced on February 7, 2000, by Salesforce.com at the IDG Demo 2000 conference, it delivers a request from the source to the destination and then brings back the response to the source.

API transfers the data between two systems. Being comprised of related elements, it can be viewed as a set of rules and tools that are used to design various software. It is used in procedural languages, frameworks, object-oriented languages, etc. The most common APIs are SOAP API and REST API.

A flight is a real-time example of an API.

What are the Features of API?

Here are some key API characteristics:

• It provides an important service (data, function, audience,.).
• It aids in the planning of a company model.
• Simple, adaptable, and rapidly embraced.
• Managed and quantified.
• Provides excellent developer help.

What are the Types of API?

There are four principal types of APIs:

• Open APIs: These APIs are accessible to the public, such as Google's OAuth APIs. It has also imposed no restrictions on their use. Thus, they are sometimes referred to as Public APIs.
• Partner APIs: Access to this sort of API requires certain permissions or licences since it is not available to the general public.
• Internal APIs may be public or private. Companies build these APIs for usage in their internal systems. It allows you to increase the efficiency of your teams.
• Composite APIs: These APIs integrate many data and service APIs.

API: Advantages

• Without writing the complete code the APIs can add specifications to the application.
• To access data from applications, APIs can be used.
• For customizing and enhancing applications, APIs are useful.
• The high speed of functioning of the application is ensured by the APIs
• API makes data sharing easier.

API: Disadvantages

• APIs are most vulnerable to being hacked as they are a gateway.
• After being hacked, the other applications in the system are prone to threat.
• During the testing of an API, the system can crash.
• It is difficult to maintain an API.
• Its cost is too high as providing an API is expensive.

API: Examples

These are some of the day-to-day examples of APIs:

• Pay with Paytm
• Log-in
• Weather Snippet
• Telegram Bots