What is a Web API?

A Web API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet.

In web development, Web APIs enable your HTML, JavaScript, or other frontend applications to interact with servers, databases, or external services to fetch or send data.

Key Points

1. Interface Between Applications

   • A Web API acts as a bridge between your web page and external services like Google Maps, weather data, or social media platforms.

2. Communication via HTTP

   • Web APIs typically use HTTP methods:

     • GET → Retrieve data

     • POST → Send data

     • PUT → Update data

     • DELETE → Delete data

3. Data Format

   • Most Web APIs use JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) or XML to exchange data.

4. Examples of Web APIs

   • Google Maps API → Display maps on your site

   • OpenWeather API → Fetch weather information

   • YouTube API → Embed or fetch video data

   • REST API → Standard interface for web services

Using a Web API in HTML / JavaScript

Example: Fetching data from a public API using JavaScript:

Explanation:

• fetch() → Sends a request to the API URL.

• .then(response => response.json()) → Parses JSON data from the API.

• document.getElementById('joke').innerText → Displays API data on the page.

Key Benefits of Web APIs

• Reusability: Use existing services instead of building from scratch.

• Interoperability: Connect different applications across platforms.

• Dynamic Content: Fetch real-time data like weather, news, or social feeds.

• Automation: Automate tasks by sending data programmatically.