What is API?

The question of what is API is a frequently researched topic by users recently. The abbreviation of the word API can be defined as Application Programming Interface. Thanks to this interface, complexity is hidden from software developers and codes are rearranged and made ready for use again.

This interface is a feature of interactions with software components.

If we need to explain these definitions with an example, a car is thought to be software. The API of this car can be defined as the interface that includes all the features of the car such as braking, accelerating, opening the windows, etc. and what it can do.

Where is API Used?

The area of API use can be defined as almost every area. For example, when instant messages are sent via social media platforms, API is used. API interfaces provide various conveniences to users and software developers. For this reason, they are frequently preferred. In fact, some large enterprises have turned this into a source of income. Large companies such as Google, Amazon and eBay earn money with API. For this reason, API has become quite valuable and its share in the market has increased considerably.

History of API

When we look at the history of API, at first, an interface definition was made for programs known as application programs and only for the end user.

But today, the term API defines not only application programming interfaces, but also many types of software and even hardware interfaces. In fact, the idea of this interface dates back much earlier than it was named.

British computer scientists Wilkes and Wheeler worked on modular software manuals for the EDSAC computer in the 1940s. Joshua Bloc says that Wilkes and Weeleher discovered the API interface in the last years of their work.

What are the Types of API?

API types and their meanings are as follows:

Open API: Another name for this type of API is known as Public API. It can be defined as an API interface open to everyone's use.
Internal API: These are API interface types that are hidden from external users and only revealed by internal systems.
Partner API: This is an API type that is offered to strategic business partners or by strategic business partners.
Composite API: A type of API that combines multiple data or service APIs.

What are REST API and SOAP API?

REST API and SOAP API are interfaces that define how API interfaces used in various operations will be presented.

REST API: A set of rules that developers follow when creating an API interface.
SOAP API: An API type that is another design model for web services. They are designed to be readable by machines and humans.

What is Remote API?

Remote API can be defined as an API type designed to interact through a specified communication network. These systems must be somewhere other than the requesting computer.

What are API Examples?

API examples are briefly as follows: