What is an API?
An API, or application programming interface, defines how programs request functions or exchange data. Using one requires knowing the interface’s formats, permissions, and limits.
APIs provide flexibility and simplify the design, management, and use of applications. They are also an opportunity for innovation, ideal when designing new tools and products (or managing existing ones).
Sometimes APIs are thought of as contracts, and their documentation represents an agreement between two parties: if one party sends a remote request with a certain structure, that same structure will determine how the other party’s software responds.
Business needs often change quickly in a constantly evolving digital market, and competitors can disrupt entire industries with new applications that meet these emerging requirements.
Public APIs provide unique business value by simplifying and expanding your connections with partners and by monetizing your data (a popular example is the Google Maps API).
API security depends on how well it is managed, including the use of a gateway.
