Let's understand what API is and how to quickly add maps, payments, or social media authorization to your website without writing complex code.
Key takeaways 👌
Quick integration allows connecting external services without writing complex code
Development flexibility makes it easy to change and add new functionality
Ready-made solutions save time and resources when creating complex functions
Introduction
API is like a magic bridge that allows applications to "talk" to each other. Imagine your website suddenly wants to show a map, get weather info, or process an online payment. Instead of writing tons of code from scratch, you use the ready-made API of the needed service. A couple of requests - and everything works as if the function was built-in from the start. This is what makes API a key tool for creating modern, convenient, and multifunctional web products. And when you need something custom rather than a ready-made external service, structured API lets you build exactly the interaction logic your product requires.
API isn't just a way to add functionality, it's an opportunity to focus on what's most important in your product
How it works
API is like a waiter in a restaurant who takes orders (requests) and passes them to the kitchen (server). For example, when you want to show a map on your website, Google Maps API receives your request, processes it, and returns a ready map with the needed coordinates.
Communication happens through simple commands:
- GET – retrieve (for example, product information)
- POST – create (place an order)
- PUT – modify (update profile)
- DELETE – remove (cancel order)
When scaling your product, APIs become the backbone of bigger systems — exactly how modern online services development works, connecting modules, data sources, and external tools into one cohesive platform.
Interesting fact 👀
The first public API appeared in 2000 from Salesforce. Until then, applications only "communicated" through direct integration. Salesforce offered an open platform where third-party developers could connect and get the data they needed. This laid the foundation for the API revolution that continues to change web development today.
Popular APIs
Payment systems:
- Stripe: online payments
- PayPal: international transfers
- YooKassa: payments in Russia
- Cost: from 2% per transaction
Maps and geolocation:
- Google Maps
- Yandex Maps
- OpenStreetMap
- Cost: from free to $200/month
Social networks:
- Facebook Login
- Google Sign-In
- VK Connect
- Cost: usually free
When choosing an API, pay attention to documentation, developer reviews, and terms of use. Start with free solutions to test functionality, then choose paid plans based on your needs.
If you choose an interface style that's widely supported, you're making life easier for your clients. That's why REST is so widely used.
— Sam Newman, author of Building Microservices
Integration Tips
Before integrating any API, check the documentation, review limits, and understand authentication (API keys, OAuth, tokens). Test your requests in a sandbox before connecting them to your production website. Finally, keep your API keys secure — never store them directly in the frontend. When building user dashboards, payment sections, or personalized functionality, your API layer essentially becomes the engine behind it. That’s why many businesses rely on personal accounts — it uses API logic to fetch user data, process actions, and keep everything synced in real time.
| Stage |
Key Points |
What to Pay Attention To |
| API Selection |
Documentation, support, price |
Other developers' reviews |
| Testing |
Load, error handling |
Behavior during failures |
| Implementation |
Security, monitoring |
User data protection |
In our article What is website technical support we explain how it helps your website work at full power
Recommended reading 🤓
Conclusion
API is the bridge between your website and external services that allows you to quickly add new functionality. The key is to choose the right APIs and integrate them properly. Start with simple solutions and gradually add more complex functionality as needed.
Artyom Dovgopol
API is like LEGO for developers: you take ready-made blocks and build what you need 😉