API

What is an API?

An API or Application Programming Interface connects a software application with tools like data or bespoke software, allowing them to communicate with each other. Our professional API developers create the connection based on needs of your set-up.

What Can An API Be Used For?

Data security is so important in this digital age. Equally, data retrieval speed and efficiency are vital to keep your business flowing. An API has these areas covered. One of the most sophisticated features with an API, is that the calling device is never fully seen by the server. Also, the server is not fully seen by the calling software, so some parts always remain private. In addition to this, our API development company can build in extra layers of security to make sure only specific accounts or users can access the data. Everything we do is to help protect your valuable data and develop your business practice.

What Are The Benefits Of An API?

There are two main benefits of bringing in software integration like an API.

1. An API allows you to provide external access to your system or services, in a structured and secure manner. Built correctly it can be a valuable tool to your customers and a huge asset to your business.
2. Did you know that more people access the internet on their phones than by any other method these days? Use an API to improve your website or mobile application, by pulling data directly from an API to improve the experience of your own customers.

What Is A REST API?

A REST API (REpresentational State Transfer) is one which improves on the standard HTTP protocol. It gives a uniform approach for structuring and consuming the services you offer affecting the way applications connect and communicate.

A RESTful API will use the HTTP verbs GET/PUT/POST/DELETE to retrieve and update data in the API. This will affect your end-use in a positive way.

API Development Methodology

When designing your API, we take time to understand the purpose of it and how it will be used. Is it a simple service with only one function, or a multi layered API with dozens of different data entities?

Each API will have several endpoints that are accessed through a URL. For example, if you wanted to get the details for customer “123”, your URL might be something like: https://myapi/customer/123 making it as easy as possible for you to use.

We link this with common methods of authentication like JWT or OAuth. After all, you don’t want to let just anyone in to access restricted information.

How we can help?

Whatever stage you are at in your journey to an API solution, our bespoke software developer team can help. You may want to migrate an existing solution or are planning a new solution involving the use of data retrieval. Wherever you are inside this process, let us help you develop robust, efficient and secure API solutions.

Our expert developers have worked with many solutions over the years, including the design and delivery of API’s that access Personal Identifiable Information (PII). We can also advise on Penetration Tests (CREST / CHECK), to give you the peace of mind that your data is fully secure. Cool Code can meet your needs however complex and provide appropriate solutions.