Application programming interface
Application Programming Interface (API) provide a useful mechanism for software developers to integrate bespoke systems with third party software solutions. Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) is widely used within on-line based systems and provides a specification for exchanging structured information between applications and servers.
Both approaches (APIs and SOAP) provide a set of tools that we regularly use to interface with payment gateways, accounts packages and third party data sources.
Examples include: –
- DirectX and Java APIs for rendering graphics
- eXtended Mark-up Language (XML) for importing and exporting data
- Google MAPS for calculating distances or displaying visual analytics on maps
- Twitter & Facebook
- Paypal, SagePay, Stripe, WorldPay and others for processing credit and debit cards
- SageLine 50
- QuickBooks Pro
- Postcode validation
- MailChimp
Web based APIs are relatively new – often referred to as Web 2.0 – and are moving away from Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) based services towards more direct communications allowing a combination of multiple services into new applications known as mash-ups.
APIs provide a rich stream of functionality that enable us to pass information to and from other systems you might have in place, or harness toolsets readily available, reducing the cost of development.