Software
Programming Interface
What is an API?
An application programming interface, also referred to as API, is a
source code interface. With the use of this interface, an operating
system or library supports requests for services that are made by
computer programs. In other words, an API is the specific method
prescribed by an application program or by a computer operating system
by which a programmer who writes an application program can make
requests of the operating system or another application. In short and
simple term, API is a well defined interface between two separate
programs.
Software API
Today's competitive global market has created an urgent requirement
both within governments and corporations for software communication and
understanding of foreign content. By adding the developers API or power
of advanced translation to your software, corporate information system,
intranet or website, it can help in communicating between staff and
customers, partners and suppliers from all across the globe.
With the proliferation of computer programming languages, developers
need to translate a program written in one programming language into a
different programming language. The objective of perfectly translating a
complex source code program into an equivalently functioning program is
done with the help of API.
Importance
Use of API becomes necessary because it helps in translating the
program and this translation becomes necessary because of the following
reasons:
- Business decisions to change underlying platforms.
- The changing availability of the skill of developer to evolve,
maintain programs written in specific programming languages.
- The need of developers to program in a specific language.
- To solve the problem of disparity of features between programming
languages.
Applications of API
API is used in the following:
- Web portals and sites which require to increase the activity of
their customers, visitors.
- Search engines which want to enable their users to access a
variety of non-English web pages.
- Corporations which want inter-language communication tools on
their corporate Intranet so as to enable them to communicate with
global offices and to translate foreign documents.
- API is used by wireless service providers who want to
differentiate their offerings while increasing usage and loyalty.
- API is used by Application Service Providers who want to expand
their service offerings so as to grow their business and increase
their sales.
