Examples of APIs Used Commonly Today

Application programming interfaces are always present in different areas of our everyday lives. This is because they are the main framework that ensures different software interact in synergy.

Most individuals do not know how crucial it is for different software to work together or how these interactions happen without them knowing about it. However, this article will provide seven examples of application programming interfaces that are commonly used so that you have an in-depth understanding of what they are and how they work.

Definition of an Application Programming Interface (API)

An application programming interface (API) is the means by which diverse software communicate with one another. They encourage technological interaction to improve user experience.

In layperson terms, consider an application programming interface as a waiter for the software community, even though they have some similarities. A waiter serves as an intermediary that ensures communication between the table being served and the kitchen that's preparing food. APIs work in the same way. They ensure effective communications between systems that could not interact normally.

In actual sense, application programming interfaces are large chunks of code that give developers the ability to build better software.

Uses of API

In many software technologies, application programming interfaces are implemented to remove the intricacy of back-end operations.

They get access to a certain software's data and strive to ensure that it is compatible with other interacting software. End consumers don't engage with APIs directly; instead, they profit when their requests are satisfied.

Because of this, an application programming interface is a type of connection rather than an actual program. User interfaces are presumably something you are somewhat familiar with if you are acquainted with front-end web development.

Sure, there is a ton of code controlling the underlying strategies that enable exploring any application on the back end of development. However, to utilize any program, end users must navigate the front end. Software platforms must contend with APIs to acquire access to different others.

Examples of APIs Commonly in Use Today

Here are some examples of application programming interfaces and their use in real-time:

Log-In Using XYZ

A common example of the use of an application programming interface is the "log in with Facebook/Twitter/Google/GitHub" capability seen on several web pages. Although it is really useful, have you ever contemplated how it operates?

Programs using this capability use the APIs of these sites to verify the user's identity with each login rather than directly entering users' social media pages (which would present a severe security risk).

Its operation is rather straightforward. When the program loads, it checks the application programming interface to determine if the user is already signed in to whichever social networking platform. Otherwise, a pop-up asking the user to authenticate that they genuinely wish to check in with that social network profile appears when they select the "Log-in Using XYZ" button. As soon as the user approves, the API gives the program access to identity data, enabling it to recognize the user.

Weather Snippets

Weather information is one frequent instance of application programming interface usage that we see regularly. Rich weather snippets appear to be widely available and can be accessed through a variety of sources, including the Apple Weather app, Google Search, and even on smartphones. For instance, if you type "weather + [the name of your city]" into Google, a separate box containing the present weather and prediction will appear at the top of the search results (this is referred to as a rich snippet).

Since Google does not provide weather information, they obtain it from a third-party provider. They achieve this by using an API, which feeds them the most recent climatic information in a form that they can easily modify. As we have already discussed, a variety of weather application programming interfaces are used to support this type of feature.

Twitter Bots

Another illustration of application programming interfaces in action is Twitter's large variety of bots. Twitter bots are accounts that, when given software commands, send messages, tweet, retweet, and follow other accounts the way normal Twitter users do.

More than ten years ago, Twitter bots handled 24% of tweets. Without a question, their engagement has increased over time. Finding which bots stand out among the rest is difficult because of their large number.

On Twitter, there are a ton of bots, but these are just a handful of our favorites:

One of the most popular Twitter bots among users is @MagicRealismBot, which creates amazing stories every four hours. It incorporates a random assortment of genre-defining components into a 280-character Twitter post

TinyCareBot: Notifies users hourly to take breaks, stretch, get some air, and much more.

Grammar Police: Points out common grammatical errors made by its followers.

Pay with Paypal

Have you ever purchased something from an eCommerce site using PayPal? Yes, that is also an application programming interface in action. PayPal is a Fintech service that allows users to connect personal financial information to their PayPal accounts. Money transfers is now be simpler and more secure as a result of this. Many websites that require financial transactions, such as Airbnb and eBay, have purposefully incorporated PayPal into them.

The internal dynamics of this practical feature are fairly similar to the aforementioned log-in procedure. When the customer chooses the "Pay with PayPal" option, the application makes an "order" demand to the PayPal API, which includes the amount owing, as well as other critical information. After that, a pop-up verifies the user's identity and validates their transaction. If all goes according to plan, the application programming interface will then return to the application with payment confirmation.

Google Maps

People now have access to almost endless geographical data thanks to the Google Maps API. You can use it to take up neighboring eateries, specialty stores, and anything else that is reasonably close to your area. It is also possible that you have used this application programming interface sample more frequently than you think. The Google Maps API was in use every time you saw information like contact details, company hours, reviews, or anything else of that type in that simple box on your device.

In keeping with that, tapping the map symbol in that window will either launch the Google Maps app for you or direct you to the Google Maps site.

E-commerce

E-commerce refers to the practice of carrying out financial operations, such as buying and selling goods online. One service that is almost typical of e-commerce is PayPal. Amazon and Facebook both hold e-commerce marketplace trademarks.

Application programming interfaces play a significant role in e-commerce by bringing privacy, efficiency, and adaptability to e-commerce systems. Application programming interfaces necessitate e-commerce functions such as web search and conversion of currency.

Microservice architecture is another essential part of e-commerce. Microservices are widely used in e-commerce systems to divide operations into discrete services that operate separately. This method of app development provides autonomy and commercial capabilities that a monolithic design cannot accomplish.

The most crucial thing to remember is that, although being separately operational, microservices are brought together into a single program via APIs.

Conclusion

Application programming interfaces are all around you, and all you have to do is pick up your device to witness them in operation. Numerous processes—including Google weather searches, Facebook logins, PayPal payments, and Twitter bot interactions—are made possible via APIs. Additionally, there is a lot more activity with APIs occurring behind the scenes. Although we may not notice them as often, they are essential to our everyday digital life.