What is API?

Definition of API

If you are a beginner programmer or a newbie, you may be wondering what the definition of API is. API stands for Application Programming Interface. API is a computing interface that helps two applications to communicate with each other. API allows your application to interact with an external service using a simple set of commands. To break down the name, the “Interface” means that different software components can interact. Using an API helps developers to add specific functionalities to their applications and can speed up the development process. Therefore, this can save time and money as well as simplify app development.

For instance, normally you visit the Vietnam Airline website to check destinations, flight times, and prices. However, what if you do not use this website, instead, you make use of an online travel service such as Treveloka or Airbnb to get that information. 

In this case, the travel service interacts with the airline’s API, requesting information from its database such as seats, luggage options, prices, etc. Then show you the most updated information.

Google Maps API: Google Maps APIs lets developers embed Google Maps on webpages using a JavaScript or Flash interface. The Google Maps API is designed to work on mobile devices and desktop browsers.

Key features of API

• This is open-source APIs and can be used by any client that supports XML, JSON.
• The Application Programming Interface is fully responsive to HTTP components: URI / request/response headers, caching, versioning, content format, etc. You can use hosts that are on the application or on IIS.
• Web API model can support MVC such as unit test, injection, container, model binder, action result, filter, routing, controller. In addition, it also fully supports RESTful methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE of data.
• Rated as one of the best-supported architecture types for devices with limited bandwidth such as smartphones, tablets, etc.

Advantages of API

• API configuration is more simple than WCF (Window Communication Foundation)
• High performance
• 2-way communication of API makes the information very reliable
• Full RESTful function support
• Web API model fully supports MVC components such as routing, controller, action result, filter, model binder, IoC container, dependency injection, unit test
• API is open-source.

Disadvantages of API

• Allocate a huge amount of money for development, operation, and editing costs
• Requires in-depth knowledge.
• There may be security problems when the system is attacked.

Application of API

Web APIs: are APIs that can be accessed using the HTTP protocol. The API defines endpoints, as well as valid request and response formats. Web APIs consist of the APIs used to communicate with the browser. They may be services such as web notifications and web storage. Different web APIs feature varying levels of security and privacy, including open, internal, and partner APIs. Multiple web APIs can be combined into a composite API – a collection of data or service APIs.

API for operating systems: Windows or Linux has a lot of APIs. They provide API documentation that specifies functions, methods, as well as connection protocols. It helps programmers can create application software that can interact directly with the operating system

API for frameworks: API that describes and specifies the desired actions that libraries provide. An API can have many different implementations, making it possible for a program written in one language to use libraries written in another.

List of free APIs for programmers

Dog API: Dog API is completely free, providing endpoints for photos and text data about dogs. It supports CORS so we can use it directly from the front-end applications.

Petfinder: This API provides pet adoption data, requiring authentication using OAuth to access the data. This API also supports CORS like the Dog API.

shibe.online: shibe.online provides the URL for images of cute dogs for data. It uses query strings to retrieve data from the API

Anime News Network API: If you like Anime then this API is for you. It returns data in different formats like HTML or XML. Therefore, if you need to manipulate and display data, you will have to convert from XML to JSON.

Jikan: This is another anime data API, there is a REST API that supports CORS besides libraries created for different platforms like Python, Ruby and Javascript.

JSONPlaceholder: provides an API with GET, POST, PUT and DELETE requests that support CORS. Endpoints are provided with preloaded data that we can use to display and update.

REQU|RES: Like JSONPlaceholder, REQ | RES provides a real API for you to build the user interface. It has endpoints for all HTTP operations used to receive and manipulate fake user data. This data is prepared in advance so you don’t have to add it yourself.

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Conclusion

Hope that this information can be useful you guys and you can apply Application Programming Interface for some deep learning frameworks such as Keras.

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See more: What is the difference between AI, ML, and DL? and Methods for Accelerated Computing