Do you even API?
There’s a certain magic in making tech so easy to pick up and use, that the average consumer doesn’t really need to understand how it works on the back-end to see the benefits.
When the iPhone was unveiled, Steve Jobs didn’t step in front of the audience and say, “We’ve built a pocket-sized PC and OS that leverages hundreds of APIs (application programming interface) to connect it to different apps and services, here’s a list of technical features…”
That pitch would have gotten *crickets* from the general public.
Instead he very simply said, “An iPod, a phone, an internet communicator.”
He was banking on public awareness of those products, the intrinsic value of combining the three, and then designed a UI/UX that made it effortless to adopt. It worked, and it worked out beautifully.
The power of the internet, at your fingertips, anywhere!
The average consumer doesn’t need to know that their Weather App is connecting to up to 5 different services behind the scenes, but that’s exactly what’s happening. It can be leveraging APIs for weather data, location services, map APIs, push notifications, ads, and analytics.
But that’s just one app! Start expanding on that idea and you might fall down an API rabbit hole. They’re pervasive, they’re everywhere, and they’re essential for technology to function in 2023.
But what are they?
Simply put, APIs are the connections that allow pieces of software to talk to each other.
Sending an email? An API sends your data through the providers servers to it’s intended recipient.
Checking Instagram? An API calls the servers to refresh your feed.
When the iPhone was released in 2007, only 75% of homes in the US had access to internet. Today that number is a staggering 91.8%.
We’ve entered a new era of both digital adoption and opportunity. One where businesses can offer interconnected services on their apps and generate new revenue opportunities. One where small 10-person start ups can compete against big banks. One where we’re starting to see the value that generative AI, ML, and LLMs can have on society (I’ll cover AI and APIs in a later blog!).
So, the answer to “Do you even API?” is a resounding YES!
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Note from the Author:
Hi, Scott here! I’m a sales guy by trade but a philomath at heart. My hope with this blog is to help people understand the intersection between business and technology, and raise awareness on how it’s all connected!
scott.ehrlich@apiable.io
www.apiable.io
