API – A Comprehensive Overview of the Inner Mechanisms of Your Mobile App

The world has never been as connected before. Thanks to our smartphones, we can easily order our favorite food, shop for groceries, and even book an airline flight. All this is achieved with marvelous simplicity and remarkable speed. We are all accustomed to this seamless connectivity that has brought the entire world to our fingertips.

Ever wondered how a mobile app connects different databases and systems so you can place an order from the comfort of your house? API is the unsung hero that orchestrates the entire exchange of data.

In this article, we will learn the ABCs of APIs and get a deep understanding of the underpinning mechanisms of complex mobile apps.

?How do APIs Work?

To understand their functionality, let us look at an example. You go to your favorite restaurant for dinner. To get the food you want, you place an order with the waiter. He notes down the order and passes it on to the kitchen. Once prepared, he brings the fresh and warm food to your table. Here, the waiter establishes the link between you and the kitchen. This is precisely how API works.

Taking out your phone, browsing through an app, and booking a movie ticket is a reasonably simple task. However, what seems simple in the interface bears a complex exchange of information between the app and the back-end database. API, akin to the waiter, conducts this data exchange in real-time and ensures that the entire transaction is performed seamlessly.

The diagram below demonstrates how API serves as a crucial link between the mobile app and the server.

This is the foundation of all the enterprise operations we see today. And when it comes to Business to Business operations, API plays a pivotal role in integrating all the complex processes.

Common Examples of API in Daily Use

1. Weather Widgets

This is a common example of an API implemented in our everyday use. You find weather snippets on all platforms from Android to iOS. Well, Google and Apple do not have any stakes in institutions that provide weather forecasts. So, how does this work out?

They get the weather information from a third-party organization. An API is used to link the data source with the mobile app. On regular intervals, your phone receives weather updates from the API connected to the third-party source. This is how; your phone updates you with continuous weather updates.

2. Payment Getaways

We are seeing this getting increasingly popular among commercial mobile apps. PayPal and other payment methods are integrated with mobile apps to perform secure transactions.

Once you are done placing your order, you click on Pay with PayPal. The application submits an “order” to the PayPal API. Once the authorization is completed, the user submits the payment details (which typically involve the amount information, address, and card details stored). The API submits the payment and, in turn, provides the user with the receipt and “Payment Successful” notification.?

3. Travel Booking Apps

Travel agency apps are full-blown implementations of APIs. These apps draw flight details, hotel information, and cab booking into a single app. The complex networking of APIs allows you to check flight availability and book hotel rooms with just a click.

The tedious task of manually booking flight tickets and leafing through the Yellow Pages for booking a hotel room is simplified by the seamless application of APIs.

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Conclusion

We saw 3 of the most common examples of API. In reality, they are everywhere. You just have to pick up your phone and open an app. From logging in on Instagram and Facebook to making your order payment using PayPal, API has set a solid foundation of a seamlessly connected world.

e.Soft Technologies has been helping emerging start-ups and traditional businesses evolve technologically with its team of experienced developers. We house an extensive pool of developers that master this art of automatizing processes using APIs. Be it online grocery stores or streaming apps; our experience is immense. So, the next time when you think of API, think of e.Soft Technologies.