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Power of Web APIs: Driving Connectivity and Innovation

In today’s digital world, applications rarely work in isolation. Your weather app fetches live updates, your social media apps pull user data, and your payment apps securely connect with banks—all of this is possible because of APIs. One of the most widely used types is the Web API.

🔹 What is a Web API?

Web API (Application Programming Interface) is an interface that allows two different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet.

  • Think of it as a messenger: one application requests data, and the API delivers the response from another application.
  • Example: When you check flight details on a travel website, the website doesn’t store flight data itself. Instead, it uses airline Web APIs to fetch real-time information.

🔹 Key Characteristics of Web APIs

  1. Platform-independent: APIs can be used by different platforms (web, mobile, desktop).
  2. Language-neutral: A Web API can be consumed by applications built in Java, Python, JavaScript, etc.
  3. Based on HTTP: Most APIs communicate over the HTTP/HTTPS protocol.
  4. Lightweight: Modern APIs usually exchange data in JSON or sometimes XML.

🔹 Types of Web APIs

  • Open APIs (Public APIs): Available for everyone (e.g., Twitter API, Google Maps API).
  • Private APIs: Used internally within organizations.
  • Partner APIs: Shared with specific business partners.

🔹 REST vs SOAP APIs

REST (Representational State Transfer)

Most common type.

  • Uses HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
  • Data is usually in JSON.
  • Example: GitHub API.

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

  • Older, XML-based.
  • Heavier and more secure.
  • Used in enterprise systems (e.g., banking).

🔹 How a Web API Works (Example)?

Let’s say you are building a weather app.

Step 1. Your app sends an HTTP GET request to the weather API: https://api.weather.com/v3/weather?city=Delhi

Step 2. The Web API processes the request and fetches data.

Step 3. The API sends back a JSON response.

{
  "city": "Delhi",
  "temperature": "32°C",
  "condition": "Sunny"
}

Step 4. Your app displays this data to the user.

🔹 Benefits of Web API

  • Integration: Connects multiple systems.
  • Efficiency: Reuse existing services instead of reinventing.
  • Scalability: Helps apps grow with third-party support.
  • Automation: APIs allow apps to work together without manual effort.

🔹 Real-Life Examples

  • Google Maps API: used in delivery apps like Swiggy, Zomato, Uber.
  • Payment APIs: Razorpay, PayPal APIs handle transactions.
  • Social Media APIs: Login with Google/Facebook, fetching Instagram feeds.

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