APIs allow the interaction of one application with the other efficiently and are widely used in web applications. APIs have different types: Public, Private, etc. An External or Open API is an API designed for access by a larger population as well as web developers.
APIs can make the life of a developer very easy. External APIs provide a great amount of versatility. Let’s take a look at it.
External APIs are designed as per the needs of the external partners and third-party developers. The whole API publishing process is done on an external API portal, accessible to external partners and third-party developers. It is also termed as a Public or Open API and is available for use by any outside developer or business. Internal developers can use External APIs as well. External APIs make an organization's data and services easily accessible around the world and help developers create new applications. These APIs enhance partner business opportunities. These Public APIs generally require API Keys and security tokens to access them.
Let’s take a look at a few benefits of using an External API.
External APIs allow organizations to use third-party services with greater power. This ensures a better user experience, enabling businesses to attract a larger audience. These APIs allow organizations to improve their services.
By using External APIs, developers can save a lot of time and it opens doors to a range of innovations. The use of External APIs promotes innovation allowing organizations to create and offer more solutions.
Organizations can use External APIs to achieve their targets without having to know all the technical knowledge. These APIs allow the organizations to connect different applications that they need to use easily.
Before choosing an External API, make sure to consider the following points that make that API best from the lot:
As the main use of an External API is to attract developer interest, so they need to be engaging for developers to want to use them. That’s pretty much about External APIs. Learn about Internal APIs in this guide.