API-based Service

An API-based Service is a online service that exposes its functionalities through an Application Programming Interface (API).

• Context:
  • It can range from being a RESTful API-based Service to being a GraphQL API-based Service.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • Law Insider API is an API Service for Law Insider that enables developers to query legal documents.
  • Twitter API allows programmatic access to Twitter functionalities, such as posting tweets or reading user profile data.
    • Text Analysis API Service: Such as IBM Watson and TextRazor, offer natural language processing capabilities for applications like sentiment analysis and text classification.
    • E-commerce API-based Service: Platforms like Shopify and Magento provide APIs for handling product inventories, orders, and payments.
    • Search API-based Services: Google Search API or Elasticsearch offer advanced search capabilities that can be integrated into applications or websites.
    • Communication API-based Services: Such as Twilio and SendGrid, offer APIs for SMS, voice, and email communications within applications.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Manual Data Extraction from a website as opposed to using an API to fetch the data.
• See: Web Service, Software as a Service (SaaS).

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References

2023

• GBard
  • An API-based Service is a type of Online Service that provides its functionality through an Application Programming Interface (API). These services often have a cloud-based architecture, making them accessible over the internet. Examples of such services cover various domains:
    • Payment Processing Services: Such as Stripe and PayPal, allow businesses to process customer payments online.
    • Cloud Storage Services: Like Dropbox and Google Drive, enable users to store and access files on the internet.
    • Map Services: Examples include Google Maps and Mapbox, which allow developers to incorporate maps and directions into their applications.
    • Social Media Services: Such as Facebook and Twitter, allow the integration of social media features.
    • Weather Services: Such as OpenWeatherMap and Dark Sky, provide weather data and forecasts.
  • Advantages of using API-based Services include:
    • Flexibility: They can be employed in creating a variety of applications, from simple websites to intricate enterprise systems.
    • Scalability: The services can scale to meet the needs of different applications.
    • Interoperability: Ease of integration with other software applications.
    • Cost Savings: Potential to reduce development and maintenance costs.

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