Application Programming Interface

[ basics ]

The Application Programming Interface (API) is a contract between two programs that allows them to exchange information.

Analysts design the API and define:

  • communication protocol (HTTP, HTTPS )
  • request and response format (JSON, XML, Protobuf)
  • authentication and authorization methods
Client and server signing an API contract

Real-life API example

When we need to navigate, we use a «Maps» application (Google Maps, Yandex Maps).

«Maps» provide geographic information not only to users but also to other applications via an API.

The «Navigator» application acts as the client, while the «Maps» application is the server.

  1. The «Navigator» sends a request over the HTTPS protocol with parameters for the starting and ending points of the route in JSON
  2. Receives a response in JSON format from the «Maps» application
  3. Displays the route, nearby gas stations, and warns about traffic congestion
plain-map
«Maps»
navigator-map
«Navigator»
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