API Full Form in Computing
API is a fantastic technology widely used by web developers and programmers to make things or resources over the internet secure and smoother. API Full-Form can be stated as the Application Program Interface. There are many advantages one can find if he/she chooses to use API.
Contents
Definition of API:
API Full Form is Application Program Interface. API works as a mediator or communicator between two or more programs on behalf of the developer or user. Application Program Interface is the full form of API that is the way for an application to interact with a particular operating system, or mobile application.
Purpose of API:
During Application building API simplifies programming by abstracting the underlying implementation and only exposing the objects or actions the web or software developer may need. API Full Form is the Application Program Interface, which makes the communication between programs, operating systems, and application programs.
Usage of API:
API can be used on multiple platforms and multiple purposes. In the following, some of the usages of API are described.
Libraries and Framework
In a library, especially a software data library, a program the API describes and prescribes the “expected behavior” (a specification). In contrast, the library is an “actual implementation” of this set of rules.
A single API (Full Form Application Program Interface) can have multiple implementations (or none, being abstract) in the form of different libraries and functions that share the same programming interface.
An API can also be related to a software framework: a framework can be based on several shared libraries used in implementing several other APIs.
But unlike the regular use of an API, the access to the behavior developed into the framework is negotiated by extending its content with new classes plugged together into the framework itself.
The ‘program flow of control’ can be entirely out of the control of the caller and in the hands of the framework or similar kind of mechanisms.
Operating Systems:
An API can be found working as the most crucial bridge between the application software and the operating system.
Many operating systems like POSIX, Linux, and Windows use dedicated API to ensure that the older version of the application program can run on newer versions of operating systems. Win32 is one of the most common examples of this feature.
Remote API:
Remote API allows the developers to manipulate and control remote resources through specific protocols, specific standards for communication that allows different technologies to work together, regardless of language or platform.
JAVA database connectivity (Application Program Interface is the API full form in JAVA) allows the developer to access several databases with ease for some specific set of functions.
On the other hand, the Java remote method invocation API or Application Program Interface uses the Java Remote Method Protocol to give access to an invocation of functions that operate remotely but appear as a local resource to the developer.
Web API:
Web APIs are then defined as the interfaces through which interactions occur between an enterprise and applications that use its assets. It is also a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to define the functional provider and display the service path or Uniform Resource Locator for its API users.
An API approach can be said as an architectural approach that rotates around, providing a specific program interface to a set of services to various applications assisting different types of users or consumers simultaneously.
In the context of web development, an API is classically defined as a set of specifications, such as HTTP request messages, along with a definition of the structure of a response incoming messages, usually in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) or JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) setup.
In recent times, due to the arrival of Web 2.0 based E-commerce platforms and Android-based mobile applications, the value of Web API has risen many folds. The API full form in Android is the Application Program Interface.
An inside view of API Design:
The design of API has significant impacts over the purposes it serves.
The principle of information hiding or data encapsulation describes the role of programming interfaces as enabling modular programming by concealing the implementation details of the modules so that users of modules need not understand the complexities inside the nodes or modules.
Designing a user interface or UI is one of the essential tasks that can be achieved by the API functionalities.
API release policies:
There are three types of API release policies that can be segregated.
Private: It is only used for internal information exchange.
Partner: It allows exclusive users to use the software, product, or services.
Public: These types of APIs are made public so that the users can develop or modify as per their requirements while using. The cross-platform API can help the developer to run their programs in various platforms.
API Implications:
API can be beneficial in application stability. But many times, it can also be observed that adding a new feature such as new function calls to the API can stop the software running correctly.
Many times, Public APIs are considered unstable due to specific changes that can reduce their usefulness or even damage their working features.
FAQ:
1 What is API?
Ans: The full form of API is the Application Program Interface. A programmer, while writing an application program, can make a request to the Operating System using API (using a graphical user interface or command interface).
2 What is WEB API?
Ans: A Web API is mainly measured for either a web server or a web browser. In the web development concept, API usually limited to a web application’s client-side (including any web frameworks being used).
3 What API mostly do?
Ans: API works as an interface or communication protocol between distinct parts of a computer program dedicated to clarifying the implementation and maintenance of the software through function calls and system calls.
4 What are the types of API?
Ans: There are three types of API exists. They are Private API, Public API, and Partner API.
5 Can I write an API?
Ans: If you know software development or web development coding, it is easy for you to develop APIs of your specific choice.
Conclusion:
From the full form of API, one can understand many things. In the world of computing, the codes are becoming more complex. Now, if you want to make your online resources or facilities easily accessible for your potential consumers, you should ask your developer to do it through APIs.
API not only makes web resources or software easy to use also reduces the hectic connection problems among the internal and external modules of your software or a web resource.
