The Internet has really become a conglomeration of technology thanks to the advent of application programming interfaces (APIs). It seems as if everything we need has been put together in a very convenient way. Thanks to the ability to work numerous applications at a single time, it eliminates having to click through a variety of applications that may serve different purposes.
All of this may have you wondering what is the best API deliverable on the market? These APIs tend to be a very popular choice among custom website developers, and here’s why they’re using them.
Google API
When Google was first established, it was primarily used as a search engine. It didn’t take long for Google to take over email, networking, social media and world maps. The APIs from Google allow all of the tools to be interfaced with a variety of applications; this helps to bring Google to your desktop and your smartphone in many different ways. Google APIs follow XML, XSLT and REST standards so they are fairly stable and easy to use. Thanks to Google’s ability to delve into everything from web services to web applications, it makes adding them to your application an easy decision.
Facebook API
Facebook continues to be the largest social networking website in the world and most of us, if not all of us, are familiar with it. Thanks to Facebook’s API, it is possible to integrate a social experience onto a variety of websites. This allows individuals to like your page or to share it directly. Facebook data can also be used through the API to connect business applications and the possibilities are practically endless.
Twitter API
Social media has grown in many different ways, but the Twitter API is a resource that many of us can appreciate. Programmers are able to use the Twitter API to quickly access and automate the sending and reading of messages, known as tweets. A number of options are available through Twitter, including Twitter for websites (TFW), which includes a number of tools. They also have a search API, streaming API and REST API. Thanks to the APIs available through Twitter, you can now find it integrated into blogs, other social media websites and on your mobile device.
Amazon API
When Amazon first got its start, it was primarily in the business of selling books. Today, they sell absolutely everything you can imagine. In fact, they also offer a variety of web applications, including Amazon EC2 web services and Amazon S3. This truly offers a lot of flexibility. When you use Amazon S3, you can use their data center to store your files in the cloud and this makes use of the Amazon API. That API has both the SOAP and REST interface. The Amazon S3 API allows for additional data storage as well and you can use it for a variety of web applications. The server farm service that is available through Amazon EC2 can also be leveraged for a variety of tools and additional web services.
Salesforce API
As the top CRM solution for business, Salesforce is responsible for providing a variety of tools to their customers. Thanks to the Salesforce API, the ability to use their CRM has really taken off. It is now possible to customize the experience through Salesforce to make it more unique and perhaps even more complex so that your workflow can continue to move forward. Prebuilt applications are also possible through the Salesforce API and they will work for any organization. They even offer developers the ability to add custom features, including web services API, bulk API, visualforce and metadata API.
YouTube API
YouTube is the largest video sharing website online and it seems as if everybody uses it, from mass media organizations to the average individual. Thanks to the YouTube API, you can integrate that content into your website, blog or even into mobile apps. The YouTube data API takes things a step further so that programmers can take advantage of flexibility of YouTube’s functionality and content.
WordPress API
As the largest blogging platform online, the WordPress service can be found on websites all around the world. The WordPress API is also versatile so that numerous applications can take advantage of it. It allows for extending the functionality of the site with a variety of plug-ins, as well as incorporating multimedia, social networking and many more options. Since the WordPress API is open source, you can add to the functionality and tweak the features to work specifically for your needs. The WordPress API key is also available so that the security of this plug-in can be managed.
Box API
One of the content management systems that are used by many people is box.net. It is a cloud-based service that allows users to take advantage of a variety of solutions, thanks to the box platform. In fact, there are numerous ideas that are built using the box API. Many types of technology get dated very quickly, but box.net allows the flexible experience that will continue to keep it up-to-date into the future. In fact, the box API is quickly becoming one of the most recognized services, especially in Silicon Valley.
Flickr API
Many of us enjoy sharing photos with friends and family and Flickr is a solution that we may use. It allows for the organization, storage and display of all of your digital photos. Thanks to the Flickr API, it is possible to organize and share those photos through various developments, including using it along with social applications. Programmers are also encouraged by Flickr to share, talk about and curate using this API as well.
Dropbox API
The collaborative tool that is known as Dropbox allows for document and file management. It is a service that is used by businesses and individuals alike. The Dropbox API is a recent newcomer to the scene and it allows for Dropbox data to be integrated into a variety of applications. This allows for easier file sharing, revisions and search and you can even drop back to an earlier version if necessary. The Dropbox API is primarily for mobile applications and web services.
These are just a few of the many different APIs that are used to increase the function and features available in many useful tools. As is the case with any type of technology, the API technology continues to evolve in unique ways. This would include integration as well as partnerships between APIs so that they will be seen even further in our mobile applications and our online services. As a result of those companies working together rather than competing with each other, we all benefit.
Written by James Bohanon; is a digital marketing strategist that specializes in SEO and content marketing, specifically for eCommerce. James helps startup brands leverage their way through a saturated market by building brand awareness. Email: jamesbohanon54@outlook.com Website: https://www.imediadesigns.ca
