Web APIs - Introduction

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A Web API is a developer's dream.

  • It can extend the functionality of the browser
  • It can greatly simplify complex functions
  • It can provide easy syntax to complex code

What is Web API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface.

A Web API is an application programming interface for the Web.

A Browser API can extend the functionality of a web browser.

A Server API can extend the functionality of a web server.

Browser APIs

All browsers have a set of built-in Web APIs to support complex operations, and to help accessing data.

For example, the Geolocation API can return the coordinates of where the browser is located.

Example

Get the latitude and longitude of the user's position:

const myElement = document.getElementById("demo");

function getLocation() {
  if (navigator.geolocation) {
    navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(showPosition);
  } else {
    myElement.innerHTML = "Geolocation is not supported by this browser.";
  }
}

function showPosition(position) {
  myElement.innerHTML = "Latitude: " + position.coords.latitude +
  "<br>Longitude: " + position.coords.longitude;
}
Try it Yourself »

Third Party APIs

Third party APIs are not built into your browser.

To use these APIs, you will have to download the code from the Web.

Examples:

  • YouTube API - Allows you to display videos on a web site.
  • Twitter API - Allows you to display Tweets on a web site.
  • Facebook API - Allows you to display Facebook info on a web site.

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