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Innovations in IT are increasingly present in the business world. Digital transformation and the use of technology have already become part of many people’s lifestyle, influencing their consumption habits. As a result, organizations—especially technology-based ones—feel the impact of this change.

One innovation that improves the way we build and use apps and interfaces with social networks is the API (Application Programming Interface). It enables the integration and interaction between applications and software in a simplified way, offering maximum content in a practical and functional environment.

Without it, for example, it would be unfeasible to access Netflix through a Smart TV app, and it would be much harder to build apps and systems that use GPS.

This resource helps IT professionals considerably by enabling better work—and it also creates savings for companies, which don’t need to spend money building, from scratch, something that already exists. However, you can’t talk about APIs without also discussing microservices.

What are microservices?

Microservices are a design pattern used to turn complex applications into simple, well-defined, reusable, and interoperable processes. Microservices can be changed and deployed independently from one another. In general, they have the following characteristics:

• They are small;
• They work with messages;
• They require context;
• They are developed autonomously;
• They can be deployed independently;
• They are decentralized;
• They support multiple languages;
• They are developed and released with automated processes.

The microservices architecture style is an approach that builds a single application as a suite of small services, each running its own process and communicating through lightweight mechanisms, often via an API with HTTP resources.

This approach breaks development into smaller pieces, making it more agile and productive—both for the teams coordinating the project and for the client, who perceives added value in the final result.

It’s also worth remembering: when we talk about building applications based on microservices, we’re not only changing the final product (the software being developed). We’re also addressing the development process itself, environment automation for development and production, different testing approaches, and how teams handle their work.

Every part of the technology sector depends on APIs in some way. Below are some of the main areas that have been impacted by APIs in recent years:

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things aims to connect and control everything through computers or mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Fully automated homes—and even connected factories—can be managed remotely.

But for this technology to be possible, software needs to turn these ideas into reality. Through APIs, it’s possible to create programs that are easily expandable and can adapt to new demands.

Social networks

Apps like iAlien and TweetDeck, aimed at Reddit and Twitter users, could only be developed thanks to APIs provided by these social networks.

That’s why, in the coming years, these and many other social networks will continue to provide APIs so developers can build new applications and expand them worldwide.

Banking services

APIs are also contributing to the evolution of personal banking services by creating faster processes and improving integration with other services.

In addition, they support the rise of digital wallets. Block.io, for example, uses APIs to create a wallet that stores users’ Bitcoins, Dogecoins, and Litecoins in one place.

Nubank, a Brazilian fintech, is another application that uses APIs.

Want to learn more about how APIs and microservices can improve your software development and ensure the quality of the final product? Talk to X-Apps!