| The acronym 'API' stands for an extremely important | | | | Maps data templates to build visualisations and tools |
| part of the world of software development, despite | | | | such as journey planners or online pedometres, or an |
| the complete lack of recognition from the wider | | | | SMS API for text message marketing campaigns. |
| world. | | | | The most common type of API though has to be |
| These three letters stand for Application | | | | those aimed at web development. Tools for web |
| Programming Interface and without APIs, a whole | | | | development are often published freely (though |
| range of integrated digital services would be | | | | retaining proprietary rights to the code), with the |
| unavailable - from posting pictures on social | | | | overall intent of facilitating the consturction of an |
| networking sites to sending email via SMS. API | | | | open architecture for web content and data |
| implementation is what lets applications, libraries and | | | | between different applications and online communities. |
| operating systems understand one another and | | | | Web APIs are typically a defined set of HyperText |
| interact, turning technology and software from | | | | Transfer Protocol request messages, coupled with a |
| complex niche devices to broadly accessible, | | | | definition of the structure for response messages. |
| multi-purpose consumer services. | | | | Often coded in Extensible Markup Language (XML) or |
| An API works in a similar way to a user interface; | | | | JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format, they allow |
| providing an abstract interface for functional | | | | the combination of multiple services into new online |
| interaction between different componenets of | | | | applications commonly known as 'mash-ups'. |
| different software systems. There are several | | | | The ability to openly use Web APIs has allowed the |
| different categories of API, tailored to specific or | | | | creation of a variety of now commonly used web |
| general uses. The two main categories are: | | | | services. Perhaps the best example is the ability to |
| - General APIs - this is the most extensive form of | | | | embed content from one web page onto another |
| API, effectively the part of a programming language | | | | web page through relatively simple HTML code - for |
| that allows for functional interactivity between | | | | example, posting a YouTube video on a web page |
| different programmes. Examples include the Standard | | | | rather than simply posting a link to YouTube. Similarly, |
| Template Library in C++ or the Java API. | | | | an API lies behind the ability to upload a video on |
| - Specific APIs - these are APIs designed for a | | | | Flickr and post it on Facebook or MySpace, as well as |
| specific problem or purpose. Examples include Google | | | | the ability to stream live feeds from social media |
| Maps API, which lets developers access the Google | | | | networks such as Twitter on other sites. |