Introduction to APIs - What are APIs?

Application Programming Interface (APIs) are essential for exposing that backend in a controlled way, so you can define behaviors to access and manipulate data while maintaining its integrity.

An API is an interface. It’s something that has been created to help two different systems interact with one another.

A key idea to remember is that API functionality is defined independent of the actual implementation of the provider. Essentially, you don’t need to understand the entirety of the application implementation in order to interact with it through the API. This has multiple benefits:

1. It doesn’t expose the implementation to those who shouldn’t have access to it.
2. The API provides a standard way of accessing the application
3. It makes it much easier to understand how to access the application’s data.

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APIs are the little pieces of code that make it possible for digital devices, software applications, and data servers to talk with each other, and they’re the essential backbone of so many services we now rely on.

APIs don’t return all the details that are needed to make things look pretty for the human eye - you only get the raw data and other machine-readable information needed behind the scenes to put the resources being delivered to work, with very assistance from a human.

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What are APIs used for?

• APIs power desktop applications
• APIs are behind most web applications
• APIs make mobile applications possible
• APIs are the integrations for no code solutions
• APIs connect devices to the internet
• APIs define the networks - or the information passed between applications, systems, and devices
• APIs even connect everyday things like automobiles, doorbells, dishwashers, and wearable devices.

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Why should you care about APIs?

• APIs help you access the data you need to get your work done and do daily tasks - whether you’re a business user, a student, or using an application just for fun
• APIs make it possible to integrate different systems together, like Customer Relationship Management systems, databases, or even school learning management systems.
• APIs help different departments, teams, and groups become more agile
• APIs help organizations, schools, government agencies, and nonprofits strengthen relationships with other organizations, research institutes, and agencies.