Application Programming Interface (API) is a software interface that allows two applications to interact with each other without any user intervention. API is a collection of software functions and procedures. In simple terms, API means a software code that can be accessed or executed. API is defined as a code that helps two different software’s to communicate and exchange data with each other.
It offers products or services to communicate with other products and services without having to know how they’re implemented.
Application Programming InterfaceTo understand the functionality of the API, let see the following example:
API Example 1:
Let see how API works using simple daily life example. Imagine that you went to a restaurant to take lunch or dinner. The waiter comes to you gives you a menu card, and you will provide personalize it order like you want a veg sandwich but without onion.
After some time, you will get your order from the waiter. However, it is not that simple as it looks as there is some process that happens in between.
Here, the waiter plays an important part as you will neither go to the kitchen to collect your order nor will you tell the kitchen staff what you want all this done by the waiter.
API also does the same by taking your request, and just like the waiter tell the system what you want and give a response back to you.
API Example 2:
After understanding the concept, let us take some more technical examples.
For example, you go to the movie site, you enter your movie, name, and credit card information, and behold, you print out tickets.
They are collaborating with other applications. This integration is called “seamless,” as you never have a clue when a software role is passed from one application to another.
Here, are some reason for using API:
Here are some important features of API:
There are mainly four main types of APIs:
Here, are some communication level of APIS:
High-Level APIs:
High-level APIs are those that we can generally use in REST form, where programmers have a high level of abstraction. These API’s mostly concerned about performing a limited functionality.
Low-Level APIs:
This kind of APIs has a lower level of abstraction, which means they are more detailed. It allows the programmer to manipulate functions within an application module or hardware at a granular level.
A Web API is an application programming interface which is use either for web server or a web browser.
Two types of Web APIs are 1) Server-side API 2) Client-side API
Server-side web API is a programmatic interface that consist of one or more publicly exposed endpoints to a defined request–response message system. It is typically expressed in JSON or XML
A client-side web API is a programmatic interface helps to extend functionality within a web browser or other HTTP client.
Here are some popular API tools:
Postman is a plugin in Google Chrome, and it can be used for testing API services. It is a powerful HTTP client to check web services. For manual or exploratory testing, Postman is a good choice for testing API.
Features:
Download link: https://www.postman.com/
Ping-API is API testing allows us to write test script in JavaScript and CoffeeScript to test your APIs. It will enable inspecting the HTTP API call with a complete request and response data.
Features:
Download link: https://ping-api.com/
vREST API tool provides an online solution for automated testing, mocking, automatic recording, and specification of REST/HTTP APIs/RESTful APIs.
Features:
Download link: https://vrest.io/
Here, are important Applications of API (stands for Application Programming Interface):
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