| <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { | | | | combines the Google Maps API with cartographic |
| margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> | | | | data to add location information to a real estate data. |
| API is an abbreviation for Application Program | | | | Thus, an API has facilitated development of website |
| Interface, which is set of tools, routines and | | | | service. The content used in Mashups is usually |
| protocols for building web-based software | | | | obtained from third party source through APIs. |
| applications. APIs are designed for professional web | | | | A developer planning to create an application or web |
| development experts who can create user-friendly | | | | service using an application Programming interface has |
| applications using a common API. The programs are | | | | to follow some methods: |
| built using a common API have similar interfaces. This | | | | - Before developing any web applications, the |
| helps users to interact with new programs easily. | | | | developer has to read the API documentation to |
| APIs are released by web-based companies. B2B | | | | understand the usability features and restrictions of |
| web services also release APIs to partners to ensure | | | | using an API |
| a quick and efficient business (example eBay, PayPal | | | | - Developers have to choose a coding method as |
| and VISA). | | | | APIs require serious coding ability. |
| APIs are generally used for the following reasons: | | | | - The user has run the application to locate any |
| - To create an application from scratch in a web | | | | errors and find ways to run the script faster |
| based development process; | | | | - While developing web applications or web tools |
| - For creating widgets for blogs and websites; | | | | using an API, developers must respect the rules of |
| - For storing data or personal information in a service | | | | the API as sometimes they have to take permissions |
| (for personal use). | | | | before building an application. |
| In a professional web development scenario, APIs | | | | - The web sites development depends a lot on |
| are also used to create Mashups. Mashups are web | | | | applications created using a common API. APIs |
| applications that coalesces data from two sources | | | | provide the building blocks to a developer for building |
| into a single integrated tool. For example, a developer | | | | programs easily. |