4/14/23, 3:59 PM A Beginner’s Guide to APIs.

with Real World Examples | by Jeffrey Chiu | Geek Culture | Medium

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Dec 23, 2020 · 4 min read · Listen

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A Beginner’s Guide to APIs

with Real World Examples

Photo: iStock

What exactly is an API?

API is an acronym for Application Programming Interface. It is defined as a system of
tools and resources in an operating system which enable developers to create software
applications. Typically, APIs use JSON (Javascript Object Notation) as the main
language which provides methods designed to extract and manipulate data stored in
HTML documents.

API’s aggregate data and complete processes over completely disparate systems,
allowing them to interact with each other. In layman’s terms, think of them as a waiter in
a restaurant.

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A waiter takes the order from the customer which is then relayed to the chef. Once the
chef completes the meal, the waiter brings the meal to the customer. Similarly, an API
receives a request from an application. It then interacts with a foreign server/data source
to collect and process a response, which is then returned to the application.

Source: What’s an API and Why Do You Need One?

In recent years, the popularity and usage of API’s have increased exponentially. A recent
study found that two-thirds of developers expected to increase their usage of API’s in
2020. Additionally, companies across industries continue to develop and use API’s as a
critical part of their strategy. By exposing often complex services as simplified code,
API’s are easy to integrate and potential use cases are unlimited.

It’s highly likely that you’ve used an application or viewed a website today that uses an
API, so let’s see it in action.

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Real World Examples

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When you search for directions on Google Maps, have you ever noticed that there is an
option to book a ride from different ride services?

In the example to the left, Google Maps is using Uber’s API to request information by
sending a HTTP request function with the start and end points of the ride.

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Uber’s API then sends information back such as how many cars are available, where are
they currently located, and the costs for the various ride options.

This information is then processed by Google Maps and is available to the user directly
linking them the the Uber app if it is previously downloaded.

Similarly booking websites such as Travelocity, Kayak, Expedia, Booking.com, etc. all use
API’s provided by airlines and hotel companies to get information on availabilities,
pricing, and other variables to allow users to make reservations directly through the
online travel service.

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Nowadays, many apps and websites offer the option to register through an existing
account on another application like Google or Facebook. An example of this are dating
applications, like Tinder, where users can create an account through Facebook with just
one tap.

Tinder uses the Facebook API to verify the user’s identity, as well as access valuable user
information such as gender, age, mutual friends, and photos to build their profile.

Lastly, one of the most commonly used API’s is Google Map’s Geocoding API.
Applications that use it are able to convert addresses to geographic coordinates on a
map.

Yelp in particular uses the Google Map API to access the user’s current location, as well
as locate destinations nearby or afar and mark them on a map directly integrated into
the application.

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In Conclusion
API’s connect the world like never before. They remove previous barriers with just a few
taps or clicks and can easily be integrated. Just think of them as waiters going back and
forth between delivering data and creating interconnectivity.

The possibilities are truly endless.

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