API - Introduction

What is API ? 

 API stands for "Application Programming Interface". 

 An API is set of programming code that enables data transmission between one software product and another. It also contains the terms of this data exchange. 

 API allows a programmer to write code to one software that can carry out certain desired actions, without a programmer having to write that software from scratch

How API Works? 

 

APIs unlock a door to software or web based data in a way that is controlled and safe for the program.

Code can then be entered that sends requests to the receiving software and data can be returned. 

Types of API

1. Public API : 

 Available to any third party developers. 

 API's are publicly available to developers and other users with minimal restriction. They may require registration use of an API key or OAuth or maybe completely open. 

2. Partner API : 

 Partner APIs are APIs exposed by to the strategic business partners. They are not available publicly and need specific entitlement to access them. 

3. Private API : Private APIs are hidden from external users and only exposed by internal systems. Internal APIs are not meant for consumption outside of the company but rather for use across different internal development teams for better productivity and reuse of services.