C’mon let’s do a quick recap to basic meaning of API which we learnt. API is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other.
Now the question arises why do we need API? How does it help us?Enabling interaction between two or more websites or software’s, API renders an easy access of information along with the good connectivity and service delivery between applications. Getting a bit confused? Okay, wait let’s understand this with an example. After opening of booking website, it directly shows up information regarding various airlines and available seats for a journey on specific date and time demanded by the user. After locking of seat followed by successful transaction, data of seat been booked gets transmitted. What drives this functioning? Yes, its API.
API helps to customize the content and services according to company’s requirement.
Now let’s come to one of most interesting feature of API, that is… yes, Integration of API! The term API integration refers to connection between two or more applications can be connected to each other via their APIs to perform some joint function. The simplest example of an API integration is the payment gateway integration on ecommerce sites. While the actual transaction is not seen by the users, the process of transfer of data for verification (your credit card/debit card details) happens because of the payment gateway Application Programming Interface (API) integrated into the website.
Hence, by bringing efficiency in interaction between two sites or applications, speeding up work of online transactions, and unlocking doors to create an effective data- based application, API promises to provide a big hand in software development.
Shruti.A.M 