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:
var x = document.getElementById("demo");
function getLocation() {
if (navigator.geolocation) {
navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(showPosition);
} else {
x.innerHTML = "Geolocation is not supported by this browser.";
}
}
function showPosition(position) {
x.innerHTML = "Latitude: " + position.coords.latitude +
"
Longitude: " + position.coords.longitude;
} 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.
