Api/3rd Party Integration

Api 3rd Party Integration

An Application Code Interface (API) is a code that allows two software program to communicate with each other.

Whenever you book a flight ticket, you go to various websites like Make My Trip, goibibo etc. You rarely ever use specific website to book your airline ticket, but still you get the place at the same air plane service that you have opted/booked using the website. Ever wonder how this happened? This is because of the API. Gosh! API is the superhero that manages all your queries without any complaints and returns with the appropriate result

Technically, API is composed of 2 elements – a technical specification that establishes how information can be exchanged between programs and a software interface that publishes that specification.

How do API’s work?

Imagine a waiter in a restaurant. You, the customer, are sitting on table with a menu of choices to order from; and the kitchen is the provider who will fulfil your order. You need a link to communicate your order to the kitchen, as you can’t directly approach to chef in the kitchen. You need something to connect the customer who is ordering food and the chef who prepares it. That’s where the waiter or the API enters in the picture.

The waiter takes your order, delivers it to the kitchen, telling the kitchen (chef) what to do. It then delivers the response and you get your food.

If the waiter understood your order correctly then he’ll deliver the exact desired food. Similarly, if API is designed correctly, your system doesn’t crash.

Why API is important for business?

The web and app require API for the exchange of information via the internet and cloud computing.