What is essential is invisible to the eye, especially in the digital era. Application Programming Interfaces (known as APIs) are such invisible essentials.
Understanding the different types of APIs, along with their advantages and disadvantages, enables you to make smarter decisions in app development, no-code platforms, secure data exchange, and workflow automation, among other digital processes.
Keep on reading to learn about different types of APIs and the features that make them suited for different purposes, including the protocols, structures, and request methods they use.
Introduction to APIs
This is the age of digital connection. Data flows across continents, servers, users, and devices. And APIs are key to this.
Promptly, Application Programming Interfaces are sets of specific rules and protocols that software applications use to interact with each other. In other words, they as intermediaries in software communication, enabling one app to access the data or functionality of another. To do so, APIs outline how requests for data or services are made between systems. They also state how those systems must respond.
What Are APIs Used For?
Different types of APIs serve different functions. However, they all play a crucial role in software design, web services and microservices, cloud computing, and automation. More specifically, app developers benefit from the modularity and reusability of APIs, allowing them to build more quickly and efficiently, rather than starting from scratch. Additionally, APIs enable interoperability, allowing systems to integrate with other services, regardless of their language or platform.
Moreover, they allow applications to interact with web-based systems, ensuring seamless data exchange and service integration. APIs are also used in microservices architecture to expose services’ functionality and establish communication between them, promoting scalability and flexibility, while making maintenance easier.
On the other hand, accessing and managing cloud computing services via APIs simplifies interactions with cloud platforms. Primarily, it allows developers to command data, provision resources, and integrate cloud-based services into their apps. Furthermore, as APIs provide programmatic control over applications and services, they are used to automate repetitive tasks, such as system monitoring or data transfer, reducing manual intervention and streamlining workflows.
Common API Types
APIs are often categorized following various criteria. However, when discussing API types, they are typically classified into four categories based on their accessibility: Open APIs, Partner APIs, Internal APIs, and Composite APIs.
These APIs vary in their intended usage, interaction range, and access control methods. Depending on this, they can support a wide range of functions, from enabling third-party app development and facilitating business-to-business integration to automating internal workflows and simplifying multi-step processes.
Alternatively, APIs can be classified by their industry. Some of the most popular types include Web, Database, Operating System, and Internet of Things (IoT) APIs.
Web APIs are commonly used for communication between web apps, servers, and services. Database APIs primarily handle data storage and retrieval. Operating System APIs provide access to system resources, making them essential for developing desktop and mobile applications that interact with the OS. Lastly, IoT APIs facilitate communication between apps, sensors, and smart devices.
APIs can also be classified based on the protocols, structures, and request methods they use. However, we will further explore these criteria later. Right now, let’s delve into the main API types, their advantages, and disadvantages.
Types of APIs
Most common API types are classified based on their accessibility—who can access them and how. Accessibility affects other features of the API, such as security, scalability, integration potential, and user base. Thus, it is a key aspect to consider when choosing an API type.
As we mentioned above, API types, based on their accessibility, include: Open, Partner, Internal, and Composite APIs. Let’s break down each one of them.
Open APIs
Also known as Public APIs. Open APIs can be accessed by external developers and users through an API gateway. This system is used to manage traffic, handle authentication, and implement rate limiting to protect against abuse.
Typically, Public APIs have minimal restrictions, as they are designed to be widely available to third-party developers. Nonetheless, developers are often required to register for an API key for identification purposes.
This type of API can be used in e-commerce sites to expose inventory services, payment gateways, or shipping to external partners. Open APIs are also used in social media platforms, to allow developers to build apps that access user data, on behalf of such users.
Open APIs offer several benefits. For instance, they are easy to integrate with other systems and allow developers to build on-platform, extending their functionality. This promotes ecosystem expansion and innovation.
However, these APIs have some disadvantages, such as weaker security (which can lead to data exposure and attacks) and the risk of overuse. Implementing proper security measures, such as strong authentication protocols and careful management of permissions, along with rate limiting, can effectively mitigate these risks.
Partner APIs
This type of API is also shared externally but, unlike Open APIs, only with authorized business partners. Access to Partner APIs is managed through an API gateway that ensures users comply with the terms of formal partnership agreements.
Furthermore, they incorporate strong authentication mechanisms, such as OAuth or API keys, ensuring that only authorized partners can access the API. Rate limiting is often implemented to prevent overuse.
Partner APIs are not publicly available. As a result, they are typically used in B2B collaboration scenarios and e-commerce integrations. For example, booking platforms can use Partner APIs to share real-time data with partners like travel agents or airlines. Similarly, Partner APIs can connect sellers with the backend services of e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
Key advantages of this type of API include customization to meet specific partner needs (allowing for flexibility and deeper integration), the potential for revenue generation when monetized, and enhanced security measures. Still, the latter typically requires formal agreements and onboarding processes, which can hinder adoption.
Tailoring APIs to meet various customization requests also has a downside: it increases resource requirements and complexity. Another disadvantage of Partner APIs is their restricted scalability. Since they are not intended for widespread use, their growth potential is limited, leaving little room for innovation.
Internal APIs
Private or Internal APIs are designed for use within an organization and are not exposed externally. They connect internal systems, teams, or microservices, allowing for seamless communication and data exchange. API gateways safeguard interactions between services by managing access and traffic.
Given the potentially sensitive nature of the data, strong authentication measures are often required to reduce the risk of exposure to external attacks and ensure secure communication. Rate limiting is also enforced to prevent system overloads and improve internal traffic management.
Common use cases include microservices architecture, where Internal APIs facilitate communication between system components, and internal tool integration, allowing different departments to efficiently share and access data.
Implementing an Internal API to streamline processes offers several advantages for business. Since these APIs are typically “closed” to external users, they offer a higher level of security. Additionally, they improve organizational efficiency, by ensuring seamless interaction between departments and services.
Last but not least, these APIs are often tailored to fit an organization’s specific needs. Although this can limit flexibility and prevent the API from being reused in other contexts or benefiting from external innovation, it typically yields better results for complex or large-scale organizations. However, it's important to note that customization can make API maintenance more resource-intensive.
Composite APIs
Composite APIs are used in complex systems where different services collaborate to fulfill a single business process. This type of API allows developers to combine multiple requests into a single response, reducing the number of calls and gathering data from different sources more efficiently.
Composite API gateways route requests to the appropriate services and combine their responses, minimizing complexity for the client, and cutting the number of requests back. Access to the API is managed by robust authentication systems, to prevent data leaks.
Additionally, rate-limiting mechanisms are implemented to ensure that a single composite request doesn’t overwhelm the underlying services, protecting against performance issues and API misuse.
Mobile and web applications often incorporate Composite APIs to streamline processes in a cost-effective manner. Another common use case is microservice integration, as Composite APIs allow users to call multiple microservices and retrieve diverse data with a single request.
This type of API offers several advantages, the most significant being increased efficiency. By consolidating multiple requests into one, they reduce latency and provide faster response times. Moreover, Composite APIs simplify client-side logic, as the user only needs to make one request and handle one response instead of issuing and managing multiple calls to access complex data.
Nonetheless, Composite APIs have two notable drawbacks. First, they increase complexity on the server side since the server must manage multiple service calls and merge the outputs, making the system more resource-intensive. Second, the API’s success relies on the availability and performance of multiple services. If one service is slow or fails, the entire API response can be delayed or compromised.
API Protocols
Now, let’s explore API communication protocols—the rules that define how systems secure, structure, and transmit data through an API. Protocols influence the API performance, complexity, and flexibility. Specifically, they impact three key aspects: the format used for data exchange, the methods for authentication, encryption, and authorization, and whether the API is designed to be more rigid or lightweight.
Some of the most common types of API protocols are:
- REST. This protocol is widely used for web services and mobile apps. It uses the HTTP/2 protocol to communicate with clients and servers, relying on standard methods like GET, POST, PUT/PATCH, and DELETE to perform specific actions. REST APIs usually employ JSON as a primary format for data exchange, for being lightweight. Additionally, they use a stateless architecture, meaning that the request has all the information the server needs to understand and process it.
- SOAP. Opposite to REST, this type of API structures information using XML format. This language includes rules for message structure (wrapped in an envelope that contains a header and body), error handling, and security. SOAP APIs tend to be stateless and protocol-agnostic. The latter means they can work over HTTP or TCP (Transmission Control Protocol). Often, they include security features like WS-Security, making them ideal for enterprise-level applications.
- GraphQL. GraphQL query language allows users to request specific data fields, unlike REST APIs, which return fixed data structures. This makes API calls more efficient by reducing data over-fetching and under-fetching. It operates over the HTTP/2 protocol, using a declarative syntax to specify the exact data needed. This flexible querying structure is most beneficial for applications that operate on limited bandwidth, require efficient data retrieval, or handle complex data.
- RPC (Remote Procedure Call). This type of API uses JSON or more efficient systems like protocol buffers (protobufs) over TCP for fast, reliable communication. They are typically used to execute functions on remote servers: the client sends a request to the server specifying the procedure name and parameters, and the server returns the result. RPC APIs are commonly found in real-time applications and microservice architectures where performance and efficiency are critical.
- Webhooks. Unlike traditional APIs, where a user makes a call to retrieve data, for this type of APIs webhooks push data to the client when an event occurs. That is event-driven data notifications. These event-driven APIs send payloads with event data in JSON format to a specified URL using HTTP POST requests, making them lightweight and efficient. Therefore, webhooks are ideal for automating tasks such as data updates or real-time notifications.
- gRPC. gRPC is a high-performance, language-agnostic RPC framework developed by Google. It uses protocol buffers (protobufs) for serializing messages, and defining services and methods, and transmits them via HTTP/2. This API type automatically generates client and server code in multiple programming languages, making it well-suited for real-time communication systems and microservice architectures where speed and efficiency are paramount.
Each API protocol has its advantages and limitations, making them more or less suitable for specific environments or functions. To help you make more informed decisions on API types, let's quickly break down how each API communication protocol compares to others.
Pros Revisited
The main advantages of REST APIs include ease of implementation, flexibility in data formats, and broad support. Additionally, their stateless architecture allows for scalability, and built-in caching mechanisms enhance performance for repetitive requests.
SOAP APIs, on the other hand, offer several benefits to users, including TCP support for more reliable delivery in environments where uptime is critical, built-in security features ideal for handling sensitive data, the use of a well-defined XML structure, and enablement of more advanced messaging patterns.
GraphQL APIs use a single endpoint for all interactions, which simplifies API management. Additionally, this type of API allows for flexible queries, leading to more efficient data fetching and reducing the number of network calls. Its strong typing schema ensures that participants adhere to defined data structures, minimizing errors.
RPC APIs have one major advantage: they are highly efficient. This efficiency is partly due to the use of protocol buffers, which significantly reduce payload size and lower latency. Moreover, RPC allows clients to call remote functions directly, offering a more efficient approach that abstracts the data-fetching process used in REST and SOAP APIs.
In Webhook APIs, data is pushed to the client automatically, eliminating the need for polling and thus reducing unnecessary network traffic and improving efficiency. Since this type of API provides immediate updates, it is highly suitable for real-time environments. Furthermore, it is easy to set up and implement, making Webhook APIs an appealing choice for those seeking simple, practical solutions.
Finally, gRPC APIs offer a full set of compelling advantages. First, they are optimized for high-performance environments, where high-throughput communication is routine, and reduced latency is essential. Automatic cross-language support allows for a broad range of applications, without sacrificing ease of use. Protocol buffers enforce strong typing and schema validation, ensuring more reliable data transmission. Additionally, gRPC supports full-duplex communication for bi-directional data streaming in real-time, making these APIs ideal for video conferencing and IoT applications.
Cons Revisited
To provide a more balanced view, let’s look at both sides of the coin and address the disadvantages of these API types:
REST APIs, to start with, despite being lightweight and easy to use, can suffer from over-fetching or under-fetching, leading to inefficiencies. Another limitation of REST APIs is that they rely solely on HTTP methods, which can restrict the granularity of certain operations and limit you to a fixed set of actions (CRUD). Additionally, these APIs do not incorporate real-time protocols, relying instead on client polling or server-sent events for real-time updates, which can be unfit for high-demand contexts
SOAP APIs also come with some limitations. Primarily, their reliance on XML can make them more challenging to work with compared to REST and GraphQL APIs, which use JSON and are more user-friendly for beginners. Moreover, XML is a verbose language, which increases payload size and processing time. SOAP also employs a rigid communication model, limiting flexibility. These factors make this API type less ideal for modern applications that prioritize ease of use and flexible frameworks.
GraphQL APIs, for its part, do not natively support real-time communication, which significantly limits their range of applications. On top of that, the flexible query system makes caching more challenging and may even lead to failure. Dynamic queries also increase the complexity on the backend, especially for large-scale applications, potentially affecting latency.
Limitations of RPC APIs stem from their being better suited for backend-to-backend communication rather than applications that benefit from flexibility. RPC often requires tight coupling between the client and server, making it less flexible compared to other API types like GraphQL or REST. Moreover, RPC APIs typically lack standardized error-handling mechanisms, which can undermine the overall system.
Webhooks APIs have relatively few disadvantages, but they are significant. For instance, exposed webhook endpoints can be easily accessed by unauthorized users if not secured with proper authentication protocols or API keys. In addition, since webhooks are automatically triggered by the server, clients have no control over when they receive data, which can lead to traffic spikes. Furthermore, users won’t be able to handle errors in real time if the receiving server is down unless retries are implemented.
To close with, gRPC APIs are typically more complex than REST or GraphQL APIs, especially for developers unfamiliar with protocol buffers. Frontend development can also be hindered by gRPC's binary format and heavy reliance on protobufs. Lastly, this API type is not natively supported by most browsers, making it less suitable for web-based applications.
API Structures
Another criterion for differentiating API types is how they are built and organized. Broadly speaking, there are three major API architectures: monolithic, microservices, and unified. Let’s take a closer look at each!
Monolithic APIs
Monolithic APIs are typically found in monolithic applications, where all components operate as a single, tightly coupled unit. Consequently, the API serves the entire application as one cohesive service, handling all processes and events.
They are well-suited for traditional enterprise software, where all components need to be managed together, and for small-scale applications that prioritize fast development without immediate concerns about scalability.
These APIs often consist of large, layered systems, deployed as single entities. This tight coupling can hinder scalability and make it harder to update the API, increasing the risk of bugs and leading to longer deployment times.
However, monolithic APIs offer a consistent, uniform interface, making them relatively easy to maintain. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple services simultaneously and allows for native caching, which optimizes performance. Additionally, although these APIs also support XML format, prioritizing data transfer in JSON format ensures efficiency.
Microservices APIs
Microservices APIs are used in applications that follow a microservices architecture, where systems are distributed into independent components, or "services," each responsible for a specific function.
These APIs allow each service to communicate independently, either with other services in the application or directly with clients. The modularity of microservices APIs allows for independent scaling and better system reliability: If one API or service fails, the others continue to function normally.
These APIs feature multiple layers, such as load balancers, API gateways, and service discovery layers, that help conveniently route traffic to the appropriate microservice. Each service also has its own database. Together, these features improve overall system performance and simplify API maintenance.
Unsurprisingly this type of API tends to be highly efficient, especially when using JSON format for fast, widely supported, and simple client-server interactions.
Nonetheless, keep in mind that managing systems with microservices APIs can be complex and may require additional resources. Communication between services can also introduce latency, particularly in applications with a high degree of service-to-service interaction.
Unified APIs
Unified APIs, also known as API aggregation, combine several APIs to form a single entry point through which all of these underlying APIs can be accessed. In other words, they consolidate multiple APIs from different services or providers into a single, simplified API layer, offering a more streamlined experience.
Composite APIs are typically used to integrate several backend services into a single API call. The data from these various APIs is then aggregated into one response. This type of API features a layered system and often uses a single gateway to route and aggregate requests across the combined APIs. They can also leverage native caching to store aggregated results, reducing the need for repeated calls.
While unified APIs simplify integration, improve latency, and enhance the developer experience by eliminating the need to manage multiple endpoints, they come with some limitations.
For instance, the backend logic tends to be complex, making API maintenance and scaling more challenging. As unified APIs aim to offer a one-size-fits-all solution, they provide limited customization and flexibility. Lastly, overall response times can increase if the APIs being aggregated are slow or have high latency.
Stateless vs. Stateful Architectures
When discussing API structure, one can also consider stateful and stateless architecture, which addresses how an API manages and retains data on user interactions or sessions over time.
Stateful architecture is ideal for systems with multi-step transactions that require persistent context. In this type of architecture, the server retains a client’s state (that is., session information) across multiple requests. This data will influence how the API handles future interactions.
To maintain this context, the server stores session data, such as transaction states or authentication details. In simpler terms, stateful APIs "remember" previous interactions with the client—think of an e-commerce website that maintains a shopping cart.
However, managing session data requires additional infrastructure, such as session databases or memory storage systems, which makes stateful APIs more complex to implement. Scalability and session synchronization also become more challenging, especially when multiple servers are involved.
On the contrary, stateless architecture handles every request as an independent transaction. The API does not retain any context or "memory" of previous interactions, meaning each API call must contain all the necessary data for the server to process it.
While this might be inconvenient for repetitive tasks, stateless architecture is ideal for systems where horizontal scaling is a priority. Since no session data is stored, requests can be easily distributed across multiple servers.
Typically, most monolithic APIs are stateful, while microservices APIs tend to be stateless. Monolithic APIs often rely on session data (stored via cookies or session tokens) to handle user interactions across requests, which can improve the user experience by managing complex workflows.
In contrast, microservices APIs are designed to be stateless. This design choice simplifies scaling and management, making it easier to handle traffic efficiently. Stateless architecture also ensures that a failure in one microservice does not disrupt the entire system.
Unified APIs, however, can be either stateful or stateless, depending on the specific design and use case. This API type tends to adopt a stateful architecture when underlying services require session maintenance. But if the interaction does not depend on previous session data or if the API is built following RESTful style, a stateless approach is usually preferred.
API Request Methods
Since most common API types (especially REST-based models) operate on HTTP methods, let’s review some basic request/response exchanges typically used in API calls:
- GET. This request is used to retrieve data from a server, without modifying its state. The client uses the API to send a GET request to the server, and the server will respond with the requested data. These requests do not have a body, meaning that all parameters are typically passed in the URL or as query strings.
- POST. This method helps to submit new data to the server, either for processing or to create a new resource. The client issues a POST request. The new data should be in its body. The server will process this and perform some action with the information (for example, submitting logging credentials) or, directly, create a new resource.
- PUT/PATCH. These request methods are used to update an existing resource. PUT completely replaces the resource with new data (and can create a new resource if it doesn’t exist), while PATCH is used for partial updates.
In both cases, the user makes the API call, including the appropriate data in the request. With PATCH, only the fields that need to be modified should be included, whereas PUT requires all of the resource’s data to be provided, as it fully overwrites the existing resource.
- DELETE. This API request is used to remove existing data, that is, a resource on the server. Once the client issues a reques and it is processed, the server will confirm the deletion with a status code like 200 OK or 204 No Content.
- OPTIONS/HEAD. These methods are used to retrieve metadata. In other words, information about the communication options (HTTP methods) for a given resource. The main difference is that for HEAD requests, the server only retrieves the headers of the resource, not the actual body content. Therefore, they are often used to check for the existence of a resource or to get metadata.
- CONNECT/TRACE. Thanks to the CONNECT method, the server establishes a tunnel to the server, usually to enable SSL/TLS (that is, HTTPS) communication through a proxy server. On the contrary, TRACE is used to diagnose the path that a request takes through the network, allowing the client to see how it is being processed.
Web APIs vs. System APIs
Most APIs can be categorized as either Web APIs or System APIs. Each type has a distinct approach to key API functions, such as enabling cloud computing, IoT, and enterprise integrations. Therefore, understanding the differences between them is essential for selecting the solution that best fits your needs.
Web APIs are a type of API designed for internet-based applications, accessed over the web via the HTTP/HTTPS protocol. These APIs facilitate communication between a client (such as external applications or services) and a server (web-based systems).
They are widely adopted since they enable the development of scalable, cross-platform solutions and efficiently integrate IoT devices, cloud services, and web/mobile applications. However, before implementing Web APIs in your projects, it's important to consider the following:
- In microservices architectures, Web APIs are typically accessed via an API gateway. The gateway routes requests to the appropriate backend service and manages authentication, rate limiting, and load balancing.
- These APIs follow a client-server model, where the client requests data or services from a server using HTTP methods (as discussed above).
- Data is exchanged in JSON or XML format, and since Web APIs are stateless, no session data is stored on the server.
- Web APIs require an active network connection, which can limit their usage in areas with poor connectivity.
- Since they are exposed to the public internet, strong authentication and security practices are crucial to prevent breaches and attacks.
In contrast to Web APIs, System APIs enable communication between internal software components. They typically operate at a 'lower' level, within an organization's system, or between layers in a multi-tier architecture (e.g., backend services interacting with databases). Nonetheless, consider that:
- They are often used in enterprise environments to automate processes and ensure seamless interaction and synchronization among different internal systems.
- For IoT devices, these APIs ensure efficient communication between devices and cloud-based applications or other system components.
- System APIs facilitate interaction between backend services, providing more direct access to internal system resources, typically within monolithic or microservices architectures.
- These APIs can be more challenging to implement, as they often require a deep understanding of the underlying systems.
- Additionally, being mostly private, System APIs are usually not accessible to third-party developers or external services, which can limit broader API development opportunities.
Web & System APIs at Work:
Now that the differences between these API types have been clarified, let's explore how both Web and System APIs power cloud computing, IoT, and enterprise integrations.
Cloud computing relies on APIs to connect cloud-based services, platforms, and users. Web APIs, for instance, allow developers to interact with and leverage cloud services without having to deal with the underlying infrastructure. On the contrary, System APIs usually communicate backend systems within a cloud provider’s infrastructure.
System APIs also play a key role in automating internal cloud computing tasks, such as scaling, monitoring, and managing virtual machines. On top of this, these APIs help IT teams integrate cloud infrastructure into larger enterprise systems. Meanwhile, Web APIs enable cloud-based services to interact, supporting the creation of scalable cloud applications.
IoT involves connecting physical devices to the internet, allowing them to communicate with one another and the cloud. These interactions occur via APIs. While System APIs are often used to integrate and manage components within the IoT ecosystem, Web APIs are crucial for sending and retrieving data from the cloud.
In addition, system APIs facilitate process automation, while Web APIs support real-time communication between IoT devices and servers. Typically, System APIs are found in industrial settings, where connections between backend systems are essential, whereas Web APIs are more commonly used in personal or consumer-oriented environments.
This doesn’t mean that Web APIs are excluded from enterprise-level integrations. In fact, they are frequently used in microservices applications to enable communication between loosely coupled microservices, promoting greater flexibility and scalability. Web APIs are also common in B2B integrations, allowing external partners or clients to access business services and specific functionalities.
API Security Considerations
Depending on their usage, APIs may handle more or less sensitive data. Consequently, security options play a critical role when choosing one API type over another, as each may require different security measures.
Generally speaking, best API security practices include:
- API Keys. These are unique identifiers used to authenticate requests associated with an account. API keys can track usage, enforce rate limits, and ensure that only authorized users access specific API services. This method is often applied in REST and Public APIs to prevent misuse or unauthorized access. Public APIs, in particular, benefit from API keys since they are constantly exposed to external developers and users.
- OAuth and JWT Authentication. These security protocols are ideal for private and partner software that require industry-standard security measures, such as OAuth-based and GraphQL APIs. They ensure that only authorized users and applications can access the API. Best practices include the implementation of short-lived access tokens in JWT (JSON Web Token) format, along with refresh tokens. It is also advisable to limit OAuth token scopes, allowing access only to specific APIs or resources.
- Rate Limiting and Access Control. Open and Partner APIs, especially REST and GraphQL types, often implement rate limiting to control the number of requests a client can make within a given period. This prevents excessive traffic, safeguards the server from becoming overwhelmed, and protects against automated abuse. Rate limiting and access control are typically managed through an API gateway, providing centralized oversight. Depending on the complexity of the queries, rate limiting can be adjusted for finer control.
- Encryption, SSL/TLS, and Token Revocation. These mechanisms are essential for securing data in transit and protecting against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. REST, SOAP, and OAuth-based systems typically enforce these measures. Implementing certificate pinning for SSL/TLS encryption is a best practice that ensures clients only trust connections with known, authorized certificates. Additionally, token revocation is crucial for mitigating attacks when data in transit is compromised.
Combining these strategies and tailoring them to fit your organization’s needs will help you strengthen data security, enhance API integrity, and improve overall reliability and performance.
Real-World Examples of API Types
Nothing says it better than a good example—or perhaps four of them. Let’s review some industry examples of APIs in use, to illustrate how they are truly the backbone of today’s digital world.
Google Maps, for instance, uses a Web-REST API, allowing developers to integrate maps and location-based services into web applications. Thanks to these APIs, ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft, along with logistics enterprises, can track drivers in real-time, while real estate platforms can display property locations and nearby amenities, offering potential customers an interactive experience.
Another industry example is Stripe, a payment processing platform with various APIs that handle functions such as processing payments, managing subscriptions, and handling customer data. Its Public, REST API is commonly deployed on platforms like Shopify. Stripe's APIs support not just one-time purchases but also subscription payments for services like Slack, making them versatile across various industries.
On the social front, the Facebook Graph API enables developers to interact with Facebook’s social graph. By doing so, they can retrieve and post various data types, such as user profiles, photos, and posts. This allows social media platforms to integrate user logins and facilitates data sharing. Furthermore, this API can track metrics like post performance and user engagement, making it essential for social media analytics.
As a GraphQL-based API, Facebook Graph API offers a flexible, specific query system. It allows developers to specify exactly which fields they want to query, returning only the requested data and improving efficiency compared to traditional APIs.
Finally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers a suite of APIs that power its cloud services, covering databases, storage, computing, and more. AWS APIs utilize multiple architectures, but RESTful and gRPC-based approaches are particularly notable. Use cases for AWS include storage services like Dropbox, which employs AWS S3 to manage user files, and enterprises that leverage AWS Lambda for serverless computing, enabling event-driven applications.
As seen in these examples, all of these APIs are classified as Open APIs, meaning they are publicly available to developers. Nonetheless, they typically require authentication—such as API keys or tokens—to manage usage and prevent abuse.
An API for All Seasons, a Type for Every Need
APIs are invisible essentials, linking every micro-aspect of our digital lives, whether we’re aware of them or not. Swift, streamlined processes, reliable transactions, communication across vast distances… APIs ensure all of this and more.
Overall, there are four main types of APIs: Open, Partner, Internal, and Composite. However, when you dive deeper, API types multiply, categorized by several distinct features at once.
Communication protocols, structures, and whether they are web or system APIs account for just a few of these categories. The most important ones, though, as they determine key aspects of its functioning, such as how data is transmitted, and how the API interacts with its environment.
This complexity suits well the wide scope of applications that APIs have nowadays. From data transmission and processing, validation processes, geolocation, web scrapping, and exchange rate conversion to communication, both between users and between devices.
However, being an API is just one part of the job. To reach their full potential, APIs need to be high-quality tools with broad support and integration options. This is where Abstract API comes in.
At Abstract, we believe that software development should be seamless, without small but critical tasks (the kind that are easy to solve poorly but difficult to solve well) holding you back from more impactful processes. We know that APIs can be the key to making development as smooth and precise as a German train, but only when they are high-quality tools—built by developers, for developers.
Visit our website to learn how we can provide you with better, more reliable, and scalable solutions. Unlock the power of APIs with a free API key today, and discover why some of the best engineering teams build on Abstract.
