A no-code guide to APIs: Unlocking the powers of integration

Have you ever felt suffocated by the number of tools you have to access and use every day? Or want to generally do more with less? APIs might be the answer you're looking for. APIs - or application programming interfaces - allow you to access data and features of software/tech tools without actually writing code (despite the awfully long, rather technical sounding name).

APIs allow different software applications to communicate information and functionality with one another. Whether you're a developer, small business owner, freelancer, product manager or anything in between, understanding APIs and how to leverage them can transform your business. This comprehensive guide will help you understand what APIs are, how they work, and how you can use them to streamline and scale your productivity and success.

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What is an API?

An API is essentially a set of rules, protocols, and tools that define how different software components can communicate. It provides a defined structure for requesting and retrieving data or accessing specific functionalities. APIs are designed to be easily understood by both humans and machines, promoting seamless integration between applications.

Have you ever used a weather app to check the current temperature or purchased some clothing online? These are examples of APIs at work. APIs allow weather apps to fetch real-time weather data from meteorological services and provide you with up-to-date information by interfacing with your regional data.

They also allow an eCommerce business to collect your shipping information and payment at checkout, powered by another API like the one provided by Stripe, that basically ~does it's thing that you don't need to worry much about~ sends the business the money and your checkout details, confirms the order to you via email and completes your checkout journey.

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Why APIs Matter: Efficiency and Integration

APIs have become an integral part of our everyday lives, enabling us to access a wide range of services and functionalities effortlessly. Their importance lies in their ability to streamline processes, enhance productivity, and drive revenue. Let's explore why APIs matter in different contexts:

1. APIs in Software Development: For software developers, APIs offer a shortcut to building new applications. Instead of reinventing the wheel and writing code from scratch, developers can leverage pre-built features and functions through APIs. This saves time and resources, allowing developers to focus on creating a unique software experience and delivering value to end-users.
2. APIs in Business Integration: APIs play a crucial role in integrating different software systems within a business. They enable seamless data exchange between applications, ensuring that information flows smoothly across business units. Sometimes APIs are set up manually by the business, sometimes through what we know as 'integrations'.

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Rest vs HTTP APIs

You may have seen 'REST API' in a products list of features before. EST APIs support a wide range of features such as API keys, per-client throttling, request validation, AWS WAF integration, and private API endpoints. They are generally more flexibile and scalable when compared to HTTP APIs. These are the popular choice among most developers. HTTP APIs have minimal features in comparison, however are designed as such to offer a cheaper price against REST APIs.

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Using APIs: Need to know‍

To effectively use APIs, it's important to understand the core concepts that govern their use. Let's look at the key elements of API usage, including API keys, endpoints, request methods, API calls, and status codes.

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🔑 API Keys: Unlocking unique access‍

API keys serve as unique access codes or authentication tokens. They are required to access most APIs and help track and control API usage. Similar to a password, an API key ensures that only authorized users or applications can access the data or functionality provided by the API. When working with APIs, you'll need to obtain an API key from the provider. This key is typically included in your API requests to authenticate and authorize your access to the desired resources.

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🔗 Endpoints: Connecting your applications

API endpoints are specific URLs or web addresses where an API receives requests and sends responses. Endpoints act as digital locations for interacting with an API's resources. They represent specific pieces of information or actions that you can request from the API. To access the desired information or functionality, you make a request to the API endpoint. The endpoint acts as a gateway, allowing you to retrieve data or perform actions related to the API's capabilities.

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👋 Request Methods: Be straight up with your API

Request methods (or HTTP methods) are used to communicate your intentions to the API. There are four primary request methods:

1. GET: Used to retrieve specific data from the API.
2. POST: Indicates that you want to add or post new data to the server.
3. PUT: Used to update existing resources on the API.
4. DELETE: Indicates that you want to delete existing data from the server.

By choosing the appropriate request method, you convey clearly to the API precisely what you're wanting it to do and how you want it to perform the interaction. Sort of like prepping an employee (that speaks exclusively in ~internet~) for a big client meeting.

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☎️ API Calls: The Exchange

API calls encompass the journey of making a request to an API and receiving a response. When you make an API call, you initiate the exchange of data between your application (the client) and the API (the server). The API call involves sending a request to the API's endpoint with the desired parameters and data. The API processes the request and generates a response, which is then sent back to your application. This response typically contains the requested data or information related to the action performed. So, your employee was successful in getting what you wanted from the big client meeting (the client being the app/software your API is working with).

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✅ Status Codes: Understanding Responses

With every API call, you receive a status code in the response. Status codes are three-digit numbers that indicate the outcome of your request. The first digit of the status code represents the category of the response. These are grouped into 'series', per below:

• 100 series (informational): These codes indicate that the request initiated by the browser is continuing. They are informational and don't have a significant impact on the outcome of the request.
• 200 series (success): These codes indicate that the browser request was received, understood, and processed successfully by the server. A 200-level response is the best kind of status code to receive as it means everything is working fine.
• 300 series (redirection): These codes indicate that the requested resource has been moved or redirected to a different location. The client may need to take additional action to complete the request.
• 400 series (client error): These codes indicate that there was an error in the client's request. It could be due to invalid input, authentication issues, or insufficient permissions. These errors are typically the client's responsibility to fix.
• 500 series (server error): These codes indicate that there was an error on the server side while processing the request. It could be due to server overload, internal server errors, or misconfiguration. These errors are typically the server's responsibility to fix.

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APIs and the No Code Revolution‍

If the above numbers made your brain go fuzzy, don't worry. APIs are not solely limited to developer-minded people. In 2023, APIs can serve as powerful tools that pretty much anyone to access the functionality and data provided by other software systems.

No-code tools have emerged as a driving force in democratising software development and digital transformation. These platforms provide user-friendly 'frontend' looking backends that enable users to essentially develop custom software without a single line of code. APIs offer no-code creators endless possibility in data manipulation and with the integration of functionality from other software systems into their own development.

You might recognise a few tools that facilitate API integration like Zapier or Airtable. These platforms offer connectors or pre-built integrations with popular APIs, allowing users to easily connect and start working with the data and functionalities provided by the APIs.

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And so...

It's becoming clear in 2023 that APIs are well on their way to being democratised and spreading their wings to fly beyond the world of development (the @xc$<!xhdp> kind of development). Beyond just tech tools, customisability is unleashing a mass of potential for anyone with the determination to build software (to sell, for internal use, for fun) and activate the potential and function of all of your favourite tech in one place. First, web design was revolutionised by no code. Now, it's software developments turn.

As the internet continues to explode with technology and the need to connect your tech stack goes beyond the native integrations offered by your existing tech, APIs are going to become your friend. To get started, we've listed some API/Integration facilitators below, as well as some of our current favorite tech tools that offer an open API (their API is available to the public) with comprehensive documentation (i.e. relatively non-technical, friendly instructions).

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 Below is a list of our favorite API connectors: