Digital business continues to evolve through new forms of interactivity brought by IoT, mobile apps, and emerging device types — all of which keep reinventing how the Internet works. Merchants have to keep pace with this ongoing transformation, since falling behind can quickly become costly. That's why understanding the role of an API in these digital changes is so important.
However, the term Application Programming Interface is quite complex, and non-technical users may find it difficult to understand what's behind it. That's why it helps to build a basic understanding of the technology — doing so makes it much easier to recognize the business value APIs bring.
The purpose of this post is to provide a clear list of basic terms related to Application Programming Interfaces. This glossary offers an overview of what an API is and what it does.
API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. Put simply, it provides a way to connect different computer software components and enables data sharing between them. An API allows data to be accessed and integrated into third-party sites and applications.
API Design
The process of developing and implementing an API to expose backend data and functionality so it can be reused in new applications.
API Economy
The API economy is a business model in which companies expose their data, content, or services through APIs, creating new economic value from technological and social innovation. It's sometimes hard to bridge the gap between the business and development sides of an API, but the API economy describes exactly that connection: many well-known companies (e.g., Amazon, eBay, and others) take advantage of the economic opportunities created by exposing their business capabilities through APIs.
API Integration
API integration is the process of connecting different software components via an API. An Application Programming Interface acts like a key to multiple doors, offering access to various types of data across the Web.
API Management
API management is the practice of creating a centralized API architecture to secure, compose, and manage APIs in a consistent way. It typically requires the use of a specialized API management solution.
Open APIs
Open APIs are designed to be easily accessible to a wide range of mobile and Web developers. That means any programmer outside the organization can access the interface without special restrictions.
Private APIs
A private API is an Application Programming Interface that exposes only certain parts of backend data and functionality. It is used by developers who work for the API publisher (the organization itself).
REST or Representational State Transfer
REST is a set of principles that defines how HTTP and URL Web standards are used. The main idea is that if you follow REST principles while developing your application, you'll build a system that takes full advantage of the Web's architecture.
XML/JSON
XML and JSON are the two most commonly used formats for sharing data over HTTP. Read our blog articles JSON vs XML: API Data Interaction and XML vs JSON on the Battlefield to understand them better.
Web API
A Web API is an API that exposes backend systems over the Web using HTTP protocols. It makes building Web, cloud, and mobile applications much easier.
We hope this short glossary helps you understand API technology better. Feel free to comment and suggest more terms related to Application Programming Interfaces.
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