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10 Useful APIs for Web Developers and Designers

No matter if you’re a seasoned developer or just a newbie, a single API can actually be a great way to quickly move your application from the world of ideas onto thousands of devices all across the world.

If you don’t already know API is an acronym for Application Program Interface. Furthermore, APIs govern how one app can communicate with another app and how data gets shared across the Internet.

If you’re a developer or a designer, using an API is a great way to manipulate data from other apps for your app/website. You can even use the data from another app to create an entirely new feature.

Here we have a short list of 10 most useful API’s for developers and designers, as well as explanations on how to use them properly…

Top 10 APIs for Web Developers and Designers

1.     Feed API

The first API on our list allows users to download any feed – including, but not limited to, RSS, Atom, and Media RSS – and then combine them into a unique combination. The API uses JavaScript to simplify the “feed combination” process by eliminating the need for more complex coding.

2.     Places API

This API is actually the biggest directory of local tourist attractions, stores, and other businesses around the glove. It allows users to access that database and display the information on your site or inside your app and even allow the people who use it to display their check-ins.

3.     Calendar API

In essence, API allows users to integrate most of Google Calendar’s operations and tools into their apps and sites. The API allows users to look and view public events without authentication and users who login are allowed to access, edit, and even delete events on their private calendars.

4.     Prediction API

In the last few years, AI- and machine-learning-based apps have become increasingly popular. So if you want to inject some “intelligence” into your app, you can always use Google’s Prediction API. The program analyzes historic data makes predictions based on that analysis. You can use to inject spam detection, opportunity analysis, and recommendation functionalities into your app.

5.     Moderator API

Google’s Moderator tool allows you to ask for recommendations from your audience, ask them to answer certain questions, and even collect some ideas. The API is very similar, it just allows your site or app to do the work for you.

6.     Web Fonts API

If you’re a web designer, you have to pay attention to every single detail of the site you’re working on. While fonts are only a small part of the big picture, they are still pretty important. This API makes adding free fonts to your site or app easier than ever. While their font database is already huge, it grows on a continuous basis, so you won’t have to worry about a lack of fonts ever.

7.     YouTube APIs

At the moment, YouTube offers two distinctive APIs – Data API and Player API. The latter allows users to have an embedded YouTube player on their site or a player that they can customize within Flash or HTML. The first API allows an app to perform a number of operations available on YouTube, such as modifying playlists and uploading videos.

8.     Facebook APIs

By visiting the “Developers” section on Facebook, you can a number of different APIs that work with Chat, Credits, and ADS, along with a few APIs that are no longer supported by the social network. You can also find the Graph API that’s actually the backbone of the platform. Graph can enable your site or app to read and write data to Facebook.

9.     Social Mention API

If you want to keep a good rep on the Internet these days, you need to keep a close eye on your social mentions. Luckily, this API can give you access to a stream of data from social media network for integration into other apps. While the API is free for personal use, we should mention that you have to pay for it if you’re planning to distribute your data commercially.

10.  Neighborhood Information APIs

The last spot is reserved for Zillow’s API, which gives users access to neighborhood data that can be integrated into other sites and apps. Zillow, of course, is a successful real estate site that allows people to look at for-sale and rental listings. The site also offers additional APIs, for instance you have a Home Value API and a Property Deal API as well.

Creating Your Own APIs

Creating an API can actually be a great way to build a business around the service you created or data you’ve collected. And if you want to build your own API, or you want to ask someone on your team to develop one for you, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. For instance, you shouldn’t just copy someone else’s API of a similar structure.

Instead, just look at other APIs and study them to get a general idea of how could you create one of your own. Our suggestion is to start your API with minimal features, build on it continuously, and be prepared for a lot of revisions. Of course, there are a lot of tools, such as Stoplight.io  that can help you test your API and create testing roadmaps to catch and correct bugs quickly. If you don’t want to create you own, you can also connect to tons of free APIs through sites like RapidAPI.

Final Thoughts

An API plays a huge role in programming different GUI (Graphical User Interface) components. That’s why you need to pick your APIs carefully. Luckily, all of the APIs we presented above are all top quality, so you’ll definitely find one that will make your job a lot easier and your app significantly better.

Written by CrazyLeaf Editorial

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