Importance of API integration in mobile and web applications

Connectivity is an amazing thing. From our desktops or mobile devices we can purchase, post, pin and pick anything anywhere. We are connected to the world and each other like never before. But how does this happen? How does different devices and applications connect with each other to allow us place an order, make reservations or book a flight? The answer here is Application Programming Interface (API) which is the engine under this act and is behind the scenes that we take for granted. API is simply the messenger that takes requests and tells the system what you want to do and then returns the response back to you.

Example

Think of an API as a waiter in a restaurant.Imagine you are sitting on a table, with a menu of choices to order from and then the kitchen is part of the system which will prepare your order.What is missing is the link to communicate your order to the kitchen and deliver your food back to your table.That is where the waiter (API) comes in.The waiter is the messenger that takes your request and tells the system (kitchen) what to do and delivers the response (food) back to you.

An API therefore is a set of routines and protocols that provide building blocks for computer programmers and web developers to build software applications.In the past, APIs were largely associated with computer operating systems and desktop applications.In recent years though,we have seen web APIs which allow web developers to build web pages and web based applications using data from multiple online sources.Although there are many APIs for many different types of industries ,most popular and widely used ones are categories of social networking,mapping,shopping and music.

Although the target audience for Web API is usually the web development community, they can also be beneficial to end users and as well as the API providers themselves.Importance to:

a) Web developers - allow advanced functionality and features to be integrated into websites they create.They also ensure greater customization and flexibility for the websites.

b) End -users - help increase the usefulness of a website and make the site interactive and more enjoyable.

c) API providers - A well built API that is well used by the web community can be a powerful marketing tool because it can: Help build brand loyalty,increase interests in the company’s products and services, increase website traffic, provide useful tools to consumers and convey company messaging.

At Trendpro Systems Ltd we integrate APIs to your application which makes your application an e-commerce platform extending its capabilities and opening up growth opportunities for your business.