An API (Application programming interface) is the software interface that lets one application communicate with another application. It enables a smooth transition of required data from one system to another. Practically, this allows your own application to use functionalities or information from other applications. For example, an ERP system can communicate with an accounting program or inventory system via an API.
What is an API?
How do you use an API?
An API allows applications, data, and devices to communicate with each other. The operation can be compared to a waiter in a restaurant. A simple explanation: The waiter takes your order and brings it to the cook (the application). A good waiter delivers your order (the data from the application) to your table in a timely and correct manner. An API thus passes on exactly the information you need. More visually inclined? Watch the video to the right to see this example in action. More visually inclined? Watch the video to the right to see this example in action.
Among other things, APIs play a key role in ordering airline tickets. Comparison sites like Skyscanner and CheapTickets show all available flights to a given destination. This information is available by accessing the various APIs of airlines. When APIs work reliably, this data is displayed quickly and accurately. A disadvantage of this is that during an API outage, the information on the comparison site is temporarily unavailable.
Different types of APIs
There are various APIs that each serve a different purpose. The most common types are:
- Web APIs
- Web APIs work via the internet and enable communication between two applications through HTTP requests.
- Example: Comparison sites like Skyscanner and CheapTickets retrieve flight information via the APIs of airlines.
- REST APIs (Representational State Transfer)
- This is a widely used software connection where applications exchange data with each other via HTTP.
- REST APIs use GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE to retrieve or modify data.
- Example: A weather app retrieves the current weather forecast via a REST API.
- SOAP APIs (Simple Object Access Protocol)
- SOAP APIs use XML and a fixed protocol for communication.
- This type of API is often used in financial services and bank transactions due to high security requirements.
- Example: Online banking where transactions are processed via a SOAP API.
How do you use an API?
Many large and small organizations make an API available to external developers. A well-known example is Facebook’s Share feature, which anyone can add to their website and app. Google offers an API connection to use Google Maps functions. Examples abound. Brthrs Agency uses APIs to implement functionalities into your application or website quickly and securely.
Want to know more about API connections and how to use them in your project? Send a message or stop by our office in Utrecht!
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This is Robert, director of Brthrs. Do you have a question, a challenge, an idea … He loves to hear it!
