Web API | Overview

1. Web API
Web API stands for Web Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules and protocols
that allows different software applications to communicate with each other over the internet.
Web APIs enable the exchange of data and functionality between different systems, making it
possible for developers to integrate and extend the capabilities of their applications.
Key Features of Web APIs:
• HTTP-based: Web APIs are typically built on top of the HTTP protocol, making them
accessible via standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.
• Platform Independence: Web APIs allow applications running on different platforms
and technologies to interact seamlessly, making them language-agnostic.
• Data Exchange: They facilitate the exchange of data in various formats, such as JSON,
XML, or even HTML, allowing for interoperability between systems.
• Stateless: Web APIs are stateless, meaning each request from a client to the server must
contain all the information needed to understand and process that request. There is no
session state stored on the server between requests.

2. • Security: They often come with authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure
data security and protect against unauthorized access.
• Documentation: Well-documented APIs provide developers with information about
how to use them, including available endpoints, request methods, parameters, and
response formats.
Example:
Let's take an example of a simple Web API for a weather service. This API could provide
weather data for a specific location based on a user's request.
Endpoint: https://weather-api.com/getWeather
HTTP Method: GET
Request Parameters:
location (e.g., city or coordinates)
units (e.g., Celsius or Fahrenheit)
Response: JSON format with weather information (e.g., temperature, humidity, and
conditions).
Here's an example of how you might use this API in a JavaScript application:
const location = 'New York';
const units = 'Celsius';
fetch(`https://weather-api.com/getWeather?location=${location}&units=${units}`)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log(`Current temperature in ${location}: ${data.temperature}°${units}`);
})

3. .catch(error => {
console.error('Error fetching weather data:', error);
});
In this example, we use the API to fetch weather data for a specific location and display the
current temperature. The API endpoint, request parameters, and response format are defined
and documented, allowing developers to integrate this functionality into their applications.
WebAPIs are used in a wide range of applications, from social media platforms to e-commerce,
enabling developers to access and utilize data and services from various sources across the
internet.