API Development & Integration : How to Develop an API from Scratch

API Development & Integration Guide for 2022, we all must have heard about API development & Integration at some point in our lives and I’m sure that we all have used API on our mobile apps. (well it’s hidden in mobile app, only api developers can understand very well)

But the questions that arise in anyone’s mind are what is API development & how to develop an api from scratch? How is API important for developers and our mobile apps? How API Development & Integration Works? And many more. But now you don’t have to worry because this blog is all about answering all your questions.

What is API Development?

API is the link between Mobile App Development and Backend Development where the data of Backend Cloud application is connected with mobile application to Build a Mobile App easier and better. Let’s take the simplest example to understand this. Suppose you want to edit your pictures and for that, you want to use the Picsart application, once you open the application and click on “Log in with Facebook” you don’t need to fill in all the details by yourself, instead, your data is being transferred from Facebook to Picsart through API which lets you access the Picsart application.

What are the Different Types of APIs?

There are 4 types of APIs.

• Private APIs
  Private APIs are used in an organization. Here the application can be accessed by the people who are working under that organization so the data will stay in the organization only and can be collected through APIs for business purposes.
  The security need is less in this type of API since the usage is required internally and no one in public can access any information.

• Partner APIs
  In partner API the interaction will be between two businesses. Like private APIs, they are also internal APIs that provides authentication and authorization mechanism for accessibility of data to the selective users who are license holders. No external APIs are used here and also the security of partner APIs is high with high authentication and authorization.

• Public APIs
  These APIs are the ones that are publically available to any developer. Unlike the other two APIs, it isn’t bounded by its organization or two parties. They are available for other party developers who want to unite with them for future development. The chance of extra income is also available here.

• Composite APIs
  These are the combination of multiple APIs for better performance. In composite APIs, numerous tasks can be performed at a time and it’s efficient that way and also less time-consuming for the client.

So as of now, we have gone through the basic knowledge of APIs development, integration and different types of APIs like REST, SOAP, JSON, XML, CSV. But we always come across the thought that, how API’s are important for API Developers.

So let’s start to know more about the importance of API and it’s Benefits for API Developers.

What is the importance of API?

In this era of technology, we all use mobile phones and computer systems. We all are much aware of the term “INTERNET” and we all use it daily. So the data that we provide to the internet can be shared from one application to another without making us refill the data again for the new application. And we want things to be easier and less time-consuming, that’s where APIs play a vital role in our daily lives.

There are many advantages for Hiring Dedicated Laravel Developers because they don’t need to learn api development from scratch, they can always use there expertise of the existing API development. For example Zomato & Swiggy, after making an order from these applications we can track where the delivery partner is right now and by what time he/she will reach with the food. But both of these applications are used for food delivery, so this feature is available by using an many run time and static APIs.

Nowadays API is an essential tool for business and companies are taking APIs very seriously and enhancing their strategies because with new strategies the web development has increased in many companies as compared to basic strategies.

So now you can see how we are using API in our day-to-day life but we are not aware of it. But you don’t have to worry because now you know.

So the next part will be about the Terminologies of API development and the working of API.

Terminologies of API development

1. Latency
The total time is taken by an API to successfully transfer data from one application to another.

2. API Key
It is a unique key that is required to access any API. Without the API key, it is not possible to get the response to a request made by the user and an error will show up.

3. JSON
JavaScript Object Notion(JSON) is a data format that is used in the transportation of data between servers or web applications. It is the easiest format and anyone can easily understand the flow of data between two APIs.

4. GET
This is a function that requests to get data from the server.

5. OAuth
Open Authorization (OAuth). It limits the accessibility of data with the user passwords to any third-party application.

How Does an API Development & Integration Works?

To discuss this let’s take an example and let’s take the previous example which is Zomato & Swiggy. Suppose you have ordered food from Zomato & Swiggy and you can track the direction of the delivery partner where he is and at what time he will be arriving. So for that process, a request is sent via API to the Google Maps with a request to collect the data. And if Google Maps approves the request the processing of delivering the data to Zomato & Swiggy is done through the API which acts as a path between Zomato & Swiggy and Google Maps.

If the request is denied then an error will be shown to the food delivery mobile application. Here security is a vital role as well. So now you know with this example how API works. In the next part features, benefits and how to create an API will be covered.

What are the Important Features of API?

Abstraction
Abstraction means it does not provide every information to the user and only standardized information is provided to the user.

Authentication and Authorization
This means the availability of all the information and password to any third-party application should be checked before the accessibility.

Testing
API testing is important to check the performance of the API if it’s good or not, whether the functionality is better in this API or not or is the API is reliable and whether the security is higher or lower in the API so for that the testing of API is really important.
Some tools are available to do the testing like SoapUI, Postman, and JMeter.

Validation
It is the verification in APIs of the data whether it’s correct or not.

Sorting
Sorting should be done in such a way that all the pages of the data are received by the end user in such an order that should be one after another as per requirements and modifications.

Pagination
When the database grows bigger, sometimes it can be seen that the processing of sources is time-consuming so for that pagination can be done to sort the amount of data that should be displayed and with what frequency it should be displayed.

What are the Benefits of APIs for Businesses?

Increases the collaboration & connectivity with cloud-based apps.
By using API you do not have to start from scratch, you can always use the existing APIs to improve your product.
Using a huge database you can always build a superior platform and also provide advantages to the user.
By monetizing APIs a company can expand its revenue opportunities.

How to Create an API?

To create an API we need to follow the following steps.

1. Layout all that is Needed
To understand what is the need for creating an API and what is your target audience. Do you want to make this API for individuals or do you want to design it for the companies or organizations?

2. Design and Develop
Here you focus on the features and the development of your APIs like the name, description, etc.

3. Test and Launch
Before launching the API should be tested properly to see if the functions are properly working and the security is high and the program should be perfect before launching.

4. Monitor
After launching your API the task is not over you have to monitor frequently the improvements you can make on your API and always go back to the feedback and make sure to improve according to that also.

How much does it Cost to Develop an API?

The cost of API development and API Integration with mobile app always varies as the web APIs can be sometimes simple and complex. The Cost estimation of API Development and Integration starts from $9500. Please contact our Sales Persons, So they’ll Guide you on the Cost of API Development and Integration.

Conclusion

I hope this blog has helped you get all the knowledge about APIs. You know now that two applications can communicate through APIs and they are easier and faster innovations. And also the Benefits of API Integration and how API helps in the growth of business as well. Now you have a full idea of how APIs are helping you on daily basis.