01 Introduction to API

Definition

What

"An API (Application Program Interface) is a set of routines, protocols and tools for building software application"

A WebAPI is just an HTTP based API.

Why

• Separation between model and presentation
• Regulate access to the data
  • Traceable accounts
  • Enable access to only a portion of the available data
  • Impose limits
• Avoid direct access to the platform website
• Request throttling
• Provide paid access to full (or higher volume) data

HTTP requests

Following the HTTP protocol when making a request you need to specify the verb and the url.

Some of the most used verbs are:

• GET
• POST
• PUT
• DELETE
• ...

Parameters

An endpoint can be tweaked using parameters appending to the url some encoded strings.