Open APIs are often referred to by developers as Public APIs, and contrary to popular belief they are not to be confused with open source software. It is rather a class of APIs which offer universal access to users. It gives developers access to all the intended resources which can be categorized by levels and types based on the software being developed. The best way to learn API design is to study Open APIs.
Why are Public APIs Common?
Many newbie developers may not realize this, but Public APIs are a lot more common than they think. Millions of APIs are published each year over the internet and via public forums. Public APIs are often published as a means of encouraging developers and business to adopt their resources or methods. So, the API development company or individual receives credit for their work when used in a successful software application.
Many Benefits on Offer
When third parties use an open API, developers will make money by licensing that program. Once the developer of the software begins to make money, the API developer starts getting some of that. Also, that developer has successfully kicked off an expansion of its user base without having to spend any additional money on marketing or advertising because third party software is doing it for them. Plus they retain the rights to the code.
Disadvantages Associated with Open APIs
Many developers often choose one particular design layout as opposed to the other. The same goes for when a company will select one type of API architecture as opposed to another. The choice is usually a personal one or often based on reputation. That means that if the development community has found an API to not be well developed or has bugs, it seems as though everyone else ditches it. So, to prevent this from happening the API needs thorough debugging, accurate documentation and security measures in place.
We know of some Open APIs which have proven to be a source of much frustration for developers because the company decided to modify the API suddenly. Some APIs may suddenly become closed APIs which may render the application challenging to fix.
REST VS. SOAP Development
There are two main API architectures which fall into two different categories. The first and oldest one is called SOAP, and the other newer more widely adopted one is REST. APIs based on SOAP use XML as their coding language and mode of communication. RESTful APIs will use JSON for the most part. Each type has its own merits and drawbacks.
The present trend of REST APIs seems to have moved away from using SOAP in favor of REST. Though you’ll still run into older APIs, generally around a decade old that still uses SOAP.
Open API Management
Once an API has been published an organization can find it difficult to control how it is used and who uses it. That’s where you need to implement proper API management, or customers will not be satisfied with it. Some companies manage APIs by decommissioning older ones and change all syntax to the latest RESTful model. They may also remove all the dated functionality and add speed advantages.
Open and Closed APIs
We know some developers may assume that public APIs are unrestricted which is not the case. While accessible to everyone and can be easily invoked from any place online, it is still restricted in some instances. It will require that users go through an authentication process. Plus, many APIs are already housed in super secure servers which already makes them hard to reach.
