For those curious about what is an API or what is an API endpoint, the term API stands for Application Programming Interface and refers to software with a specific function associated with it.
The interface is the service contract between the two applications that aim to communicate with one another. To understand what is an API, it is important to understand that this contract defines how they can communicate and use specific requests or responses.
Table of Contents
How Do APIs Work?
Each computer needs to follow specific protocols to establish a communication layer, and this protocol represents a set of rules.
A computer that does not follow the specific protocol can break the communication. Communications on the web take place over the HTTP protocol. APIS, available on the web, also uses the HTTP protocol. The client sends a request to a server, which then responds to the client.
Computers need information to send with the request so that the server can respond. Some key information includes the URL, method, header, and body.
There are numerous types of APIs, from HTTP protocol-enabled ones to hidden APIs. Open APIs are also available for anyone, anywhere, at no cost.
How Do API Endpoints Work?
The API endpoint is a representation of the end of a communication channel. Whenever an API interacts with another system, the communication’s touchpoints are the endpoints.
Moreover, API endpoints can include a URL of a server or a service. Every endpoint is the location from which APIs can access the resource required to carry out a specific function. APIs work through the usage of requests and responses.
What Is The Difference Between Endpoint vs. API?
It is important to be able and distinguish the differences between an endpoint and an API.
An endpoint is a component of the API, while the API is the set of rules that enable two applications to get access to one another’s resources.
How Do Endpoints Work With APIs?
When we look at them from the perspective of the APIs, an endpoint can feature an URL of a server or a service.
Every endpoint represents the location where APIs can access the resources that they need in order to be able to carry out a specific function.
At the point in time when an API requests information from a web application or a web server, it will then end up getting a response.
Why Are API Endpoints Important?
Endpoints play a major role when it comes to the communication of APIs.
The Endpoints are also the locations of the resources. The APIs use endpoint URLs to get the resources that have been requested.
What Are Secure API Endpoints?
In order for API endpoints to remain secure, users will need to enable user authorization with API keys. These keys control access to public REST services.
Moreover, users can enable one-way password hashing or apply rate limits. Additionally, IP address filtering can also be enabled, with geographic filtering as an alternative method for protection and security.
What Are API Documentation and Endpoint Examples?
Any software program will typically feature multiple API endpoints in order for it to operate efficiently. For example, applications such as Instagram [1] have endpoints that allow businesses and even creators to get data surrounding their media and profile interactions.
There is an API endpoint that enables them to moderate the comments or replies and another endpoint that will enable them to get access to media that has been set with a specific hashtag.
The collection of tutorials, references, or examples can help any developer use an API, and this is referred to as its documentation.
IPStack
IPStack provides users with a powerful, real-time IP to geolocation API capable of getting accurate location data and assessing security. The results are gained in milliseconds in the JSON or XML format.
The available endpoints include Standard Lookup, Bulk Lookup, and Requester Lookup.
For example, to access the standard IP lookup feature, users can look up single IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.
The API request is as follows:
|
1 2 |
https://api.ipstack.com/134.201.250.155 ? access_key = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY |
To initiate a bulk IP lookup, users will need to write the following command:
|
1 2 |
https://api.ipstack.com/134.201.250.155,72.229.28.185,110.174.165.78 ? access_key = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY |
Fixer.io
Fixer API is powered by over 15 exchange rate data sources and can provide users with real-time exchange rates for over 170 world currencies. There are multiple endpoints, and all of them serve different use cases. These include the latest exchange rate data for a specific set of currencies to convert amounts from one currency to another or to get Time-Seires data for one or multiple currencies.
For example, to get the latest endpoints, users will need to use the following request:
|
1 2 3 4 |
https://data.fixer.io/api/latest ? access_key = API_KEY & base = USD & symbols = GBP,JPY,EUR |
To get the convert endpoints, users can utilize the following command:
|
1 2 3 4 5 |
<span class="typ">https</span><span class="pun">:</span><span class="com">//data.fixer.io/api/</span><span class="orange"><span class="com">convert</span></span> <span class="pun">?</span><span class="pln"> access_key </span><span class="pun">=</span><span class="pln"> API_KEY </span><span class="pun">&</span> <span class="orange"><span class="kwd">from</span></span> <span class="pun">=</span> <span class="orange"><span class="pln">GBP</span></span> <span class="pun">&</span> <span class="orange"><span class="pln">to</span></span> <span class="pun">=</span> <span class="orange"><span class="pln">JPY</span></span> <span class="pun">&</span> <span class="orange"><span class="pln">amount</span></span> <span class="pun">=</span> <span class="orange"><span class="lit">25</span></span> |
Do API Endpoints Actually Matter?
In summary, these API endpoints all serve a specific role and exist within locations in an API that is intended to accept requests and send back responses within a system. Different systems and applications communicate with one another through these endpoints.
We went over some common API Endpoints and commands found in IPStack and Fixer.io. However, they are similar across most API services that are available in the market today. By understanding how they work and implementing them, developers or general users can access the data they need quickly and efficiently.
With all of this in mind, it is clear that API endpoints play an essential role in the operation of APIs and web applications or websites. In addition, by understanding how they operate, future developers can implement them properly and take full advantage of their benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the Difference Between API and Endpoint?
The endpoint is connected to an API and, as a result, is its component, while the API itself is a set of rules that enable applications to communicate with one another and share specific resources.
Where Do I Find the API Endpoint?
Any developer can get access to the API endpoint by taking the dataset’s UID and replacing it with a string such as https://<domain>/resource/<UID>.<extension>*, where the extension would be the data format that the developer aims to get data for.
Why Use API Endpoints?
API endpoints can help when it comes to pointing to specific locations of the resources that need to get accessed. Moreover, these endpoints can also ensure that the software works with the APIs as it has been developed and designed to work. Website or even software APIs have to connect with each endpoint API in order to perform efficiently.
[1] https://www.instagram.com/
