The bridge I’m going to write about is the Application Programing Interfaces also known as API; you may be wondering the same questions that a I had: what is an API?, how can I use it?, for what this is useful for?, why do you say that is a bridge that connect with my apps?
For starters, if you are a common user, is important to know about API, you don’t need to know everything about it, but at least how it works and why is very useful with apps and websites. And if you are software engineer, you’d better dig deeply about APIs.
An API is an interface that allow applications to interact with others, and without knowing, everyone have been using it in their daily life; when you open your Facebook app en your smartphone, an API is connecting the app with Facebook.com, when you use Whatsapp, Instagram and many other apps have API; and all to make the interaction with the internet more easier, faster and comfortable.
Have you ever used or had a widget?, those small window or icons that appear on your screen with information about an app. Widgets are other examples of API, where your are not directly connected in Twitter, Facebook or other website, but you are interacting with information provided by them.
API is very useful tool for everyone, for companies because it allows them to be more competitive; and for common users because you can get all kind of information online.
The most important thing APIs are bringing to the table, is the empowerment of the average online individual. APIs are providing access to much of the data and content we are
online.
I’m sharing this video about how to add a twitter widget in your WordPress blog.
References:
https://www.3scale.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/What-is-an-API-1.0.pdf
