Nowadays, most companies have a few developers on their payroll that help them create a solution for their business. Whether we’re talking about simple HTML optimization or creating internal systems for the company, there is little these experts can’t do.
In many cases, developers rely on external APIs to make their job easier. Instead of developing new software from scratch, they use existing code made by other companies and professionals.
In this article, I’ll talk about the 10 most popular types of APIs you can find online. Now, I’m not talking about open APIs or internal APIs. Instead, I’m referring to codes made for specific industries and tasks.
1. Financial
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Financial APIs are probably the most popular category of codes. Just about any large company can use them to simplify their daily activities and management. However, they’re much more popular among financial institutions such as banks, brokers, and insurance companies.
Using these codes will make your business more appealing to external entities. Furthermore, you can utilize them as a basis for the company’s solutions. For example, businesses can use them to create eBanking platforms, stock trackers, and different mobile apps.
The most popular financial APIs are Yahoo Finance, Alpha Vantage, Twelve Data, YH Finance, RealStonks, and Latest Stock Price.
2. Image
Image APIs are necessary for image processing, and almost any app can benefit from this technology. Whether you’re running a security business, medical, scientific, or food processing company, you can use this type of interface to develop crucial solutions.
For example, medical companies create ultrasound imagery with this type of app. Food companies can develop solutions that can detect unique dishes and classify them, and so on. The possibilities are limitless!
Some of the most popular image APIs are Getty Images, Removal.AI, Instagram, and Unsplash.
3. Weather
Weather API allows developers to query weather data from code and scripts. They allow you to access historical data and predict future weather changes. The best ones allow you to track the conditions in real time, assess various parameters, and generate reports.
Weather applications are crucial for industries such as agriculture, logistics, and aviation. They allow users to track the conditions and adjust their daily operations accordingly.
There are several hubs where you can find a free weather API without key. Some of the most popular codes are WeatherAPI, Forecast, Weather Embed, and Meteostat.
4. Payments
Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a world without payment APIs. These solutions are crucial for running just about any online business as they allow safe and seamless web transactions.
The best thing yet is that these APIs simplify your life. Every transaction is done in real-time, with funds changing hands within a few seconds. During data transfer, buyers’ card information and limit are encrypted, thus providing increased safety and a better user experience. Of course, this also makes things easier for the online shop using the API.
Some of the best payment APIs are PayPay, Amazon Pay, Authorize.net, Square, and Stripe.
5. Messaging
Just 10 years ago, you had to rely on your phone for day-to-day communication. And while you had programs such as Skype, they were often buggy and unreliable.
As messaging APIs become more common, most SaaS providers are now adding messaging features to their platforms. In fact, you don’t need tools to talk to friends, family, and website owners. You can do so directly via social media, website chat, and other channels.
Twilio, Sendbird, MirrorFly, TalkJS, and PubNub are just a few popular codes that developers use to create company solutions.
6. Maps
If you go to the Contact tab of any commercial site, you can access a few basic business data and a map showcasing the brand’s physical location. This couldn’t be possible without map APIs that you can integrate on just about any platform.
Google Maps have become so widespread that we no longer use a physical address when telling friends where to go. Instead, we simply send coordinates with a print-screened map. Even when you’re moving around a city, these maps allow you to determine your current position.
Although Google Maps is the most popular API in this category, we also need to mention OpenStreetMap and Mapbox.
7. Social media
Using social media API has become important for increasing user website user engagement. With Twitter API, you can add tweets to your news blog, sharing controversial statements from popular celebrities. On the other hand, YouTube API allows you to share videos on your site.
Social media APIs are especially important for SaaS brands. For example, Sprout Social utilizes these codes allowing users to manage several social media from one dashboard. Previously, you had to open several tabs in your browser to perform the same action, but now, you can do everything from one hub.
Aside from YouTube and Twitter, other social media also offer their APIs to the public. The best examples are Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
8. Emails
Email APIs perform a similar function as messaging APIs allowing you to integrate communication features into your solutions. Unlike developing the code yourself, you can use a provider’s interface and add it to your solutions.
Companies usually prioritize email APIs that are cheap and easy to implement. Some of the best solutions are SendInBlue, SendGrid, Postmark, Gmail API, and so on.
9. Sports
Sports APIs have some similarities to weather APIs in the sense that they provide data in real-time. These codes are crucial for developing a company’s sports solutions and are commonly utilized by betting brands and statistical sites. Aside from tracking live scores, they also provide probability scores, league schedules, report cards, and simulated games.
Yahoo Fantasy Sports, Sportsradar Sports Data API, and Versus Sports Simulator are the best ones you can find online.
10. Travel
We no longer have to go to travel agencies to book our next vacation. Instead, we can do everything by ourselves by visiting sites such as Airbnb and Booking.com. Travel platforms often rely on external APIs to develop their solutions, which allow hotel and flight payments and scheduling in real-time.