APIs Explained | Real World Examples

Join the Discord Server!
/ discord
---------------------
MY FULL CCNA COURSE
📹 CCNA - certbros.teachable.com/p/cisc...
FREE CCNA FLASHCARDS
🃏 CCNA Flashcards - certbros.com/ccna/flashcards
HOW TO PASS THE CCNA
📚 Get a great book - amzn.to/3f16QA5
📹 Take a video course - certbros.teachable.com/p/cisc...
✔ Use practice exams - www.certbros.com/ccna/Exsim
SOCIAL
🐦 Twitter - / certbros
📸 Instagram - / certbros
👔 LinkedIn - / certbros
💬 Discord - www.certbros.com/discord
Disclaimer: These are affiliate links. If you purchase using these links, I'll receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
00:00 Intro
00:40 Overview
03:27 Weather app example
05:26 KZbin API example
10:58 Conclusion
What is an API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface and it's essentially a doorway into an application.
Using this doorway, other third-party applications can get access to all of the data and features without needing to provide any custom code or integrations whatsoever.
The process works something like this.
An API request is sent to the application. An API request is just a simple HTTP message with some parameters telling the app what information to send back. This response will be sent back usually in JSON or XML format.
The beauty of APIs is that anyone can access information and features that would otherwise be unobtainable.
For example, most of us do not have access to a worldwide network of weather stations, but, anyone can build a mobile app and use APIs to request the data from the already existing weather application.
APIs have become so widespread, you would be hard-pressed to find a popular application these days that doesn’t offer API access.
With this amount of access to APIs, the possibilities are endless.

[@pedrolopez8057]

For those of you new to this also understand that the word "interface" just means where two things meet. Some people think interface just means user interface. It can also be used in terms of database interface, network interface, software interface, urban wilderness interface, land sea interface etc. I've been looked at strangely by people who thought it only meant graphical user interface (GUI).

[@fnoxin5135]

Thanks

[@voduytruong886]

ong thanks a lot, you clear my mind, so much thanks

[@carlosargelioarevalomercado]

It is actually a systems theory concept. Something that connects two different systems

[@pedrolopez8057]

@@carlosargelioarevalomercado It's much broader than that. That is one example of an interface.

[@carlosargelioarevalomercado]

@@pedrolopez8057 much broader than systems theory?

[@-thelegitnoob-]

"Babe wake up, new CertBros dropped"

[@Certbros]

This cracked me up 😂😂😂

[@ardentdfender4116]

This was damn funny reading the comments.

[@ShioTV703]

😆😆

[@ardentdfender4116]

As a gamer and one who has used addons for games, I’ve heard of APIs for almost 20 years. I be honest to say as much as I’ve heard of the thing, I knew they did a query to the server of the MMO games I played, I’ve never had any idea how they worked. Not clearly. This was a very good example with the video in clear explanation. This has also given me an idea for my job in industrial automation.

[@MrTutiplengo]

The video is explaining the concept of Web APIs, specifically, not APIs themselves. An API is just the collection of classes, methods and functions exposed by a programming library or framework. Web APIs is the same concept, but brought to the Internet. It's important to know the difference.

[@hastyscorpion]

People using this video to learn are not at the level where that distinction makes a difference.

[@MrTutiplengo]

@@hastyscorpion All the more important to learn things right from the get go. They are learning a definition of API that's not 100% accurate, they will probably encounter the concept of an API (a real software API) at some point in their careers and get it wrong. Hopefully this won't cost anyone an opportunity in job interviews.

[@amaechiwilliams1345]

That's not true. There are different levels to learning. Starting from teaching a person 1 + 1 without necessarily teaching them immediately 6578 +-* 7655 doesn't mean 1 + 1 is wrong. This is just an 11 minutes video. You don't expect them to touch all aspects of API. No person that wants to get serious knowledge about a topic would just watch an 11 minutes video and that's all. There's hours and hours of lectures they know they have to learn but they'll have to START from somewhere.

[@MrTutiplengo]

@@amaechiwilliams1345 I agree that anyone seeking to learn more about this will watch a lot more videos on it. And I do agree that this video is a good introduction to the topic of Web APIS, a good starting point. That being said, I don't think it was too difficult to explain that there is something called APIs and another thing called Web APIS. This is still a simple enough concept that can be explained in layman's terms without getting to deep into the details.

[@sonugupta147]

Very true....when I started my backend development learning journey, I found everywhere the same definition, "an API is the set of rules and protocols which enables the communication among different systems". While this definition is theoretically correct but it doesn't tell the whole picture like what an entity it is and due to this I was just stuck, frustrated, and confused about a month. It was later when I got to know that the APIs are just the classes and methods exposed by a service or system to the users in a specific pre-defined rules and protocols. So basically they standardised the communications between the systems by providing a set of functions and classes to call the actual function classes or methods of the system/services.....As an extra layer of methods above the actual functions/methods.

[@kosamoza]

Thanks for the quick short introduction It was really so helpful

[@FIREBUG7479]

Amazing explanation! Truly valuable, I can say I learnt so much from this channel about technology than what lecturers in schools have taught.

[@WestCoastAce27]

Great explanation. I would add: if you’re thinking about doing this as a business, we forewarned that big companies do ‘change the rules’ for their API access whenever they wish, including starting to charge large fees.

[@olasupoismail6285]

Well presented in simple and digestible format

[@angelovenerbaloloy8243]

Thank you for creating this video. I've been hearing this "API" long ago but never understood it until today thanks for this video.

[@MrReklez]

Your explanations are amazing. Nice pace, great animations & examples.

[@ozgeylmaz8685]

explanations are in a very clear way thank you for the tutorial:)

[@shashankprakash4517]

Awesome! The CRUD analogy, I've one other place earlier

[@silentracer6529]

This is BY FAR the best API explanation on KZbin. Thank you!

[@fabiopellacini6231]

Great and very clear explanation! Thank you so much!!! 😊👍

[@Grinwa]

I love api and ur videos they just make the internet better

[@tuhinchowdhury5260]

Thank You for explaining in detail, slow and steady manner. It really helped me to understand the concept of API with actual practical example rather than reading definitions here and there.

[@booksbybytes]

A voice made for radio! Thanks for the video.

[@klarissa6350]

Important to note that this is just HTTP/Web APIs APIs exist way out of the scope of web apps or Http

[@draxano6132]

Greatest API video I've ever seen!!!

[@ramyromeo9846]

thank you very much when i saw the title of the video i was saying the exact same API's was giving me a hedace to understand thank you

[@kemibrianolimba682]

Brilliant, keep up the great work

[@PriyanshuKumar-qu8vo]

The best video on API ever, I found.😄

[@nicholastaylor8983]

Good stuff my man!

[@taherimohsen2000]

Very nice description. Thank you :)

[@tonybo927]

Nice. Finally a high level detailed overview of API's explained in a way that someone who's not that familiar with API concepts will be able to grasp. Much appreciated.

[@toniok.4726]

Spectacular as always

[@Certbros]

Thank you Tonio! Appreciate the kind words 🙏

[@alozie__]

Wow this, I like how you broke down everything with examples. I was wondering what JSON format is and how I would have gone to look for another video to understand that but you broke everything down with examples. Lovely

[@jenniferogonda7816]

@certbros O passed CCNA today and i want to thank you for all the awesome videos you have.They sure helped me ...

[@Certbros]

Congratulations on getting your CCNA Jennifer!!! Happy to have helped. Keep up the great work.

[@prudencen_n1267]

If only I could give this video many likes :) Well explained, especially for a beginner

[@joenice242]

Very well explained to a noob like me up until the point where I asked myself: So how is the response received and do you need to run it through a service like postman or was that just for the display?

[@atmmustafizurrahman6934]

it is one of the best explanations ever.

[@sugaslate14]

I had no idea how much I needed this hahaha thanks new sun here

[@darentsimon]

Channelling my inner John Tuld (Margin Call): "Please, speak as you might to a young child or a Golden Retriever. It wasn't brains that got me here, I can assure you that." You did, and now it's finally sunken in! Thank you 👍

[@Certbros]

Love this!! Really happy you liked it 😁

[@RRENH]

FINALLY. I get it. Thank you!

[@nicholascarr8654]

This video is about REST APIs. It is misleading to beginners as it will make them think that all APIs are REST/HTTP. The title should say "REST APIs."

[@NathanHedglin]

THIS. Web devs especially influencers aren't very smart

[@fridaaa0]

what’s the difference?

[@xxjustinx34xx]

Thank you for making videos, learned soooo much from this channel!

[@Certbros]

Really happy to hear that Justin! You're welcome and thank you for comment 👌

[@vladimiraleksic4066]

Hey, it is nice not to be scared of APIs anymore 😂. Great job 🎉

[@great-knowlage]

Nice video, i understand APIs better now. Thank you

[@itanand05]

Really Amazing Explanation..

[@dennispeterson3691]

I've heard the term "API" tossed around for years by people who love to use jargon. Your video finally explained what they are and why they are so common. Thank you, and well done!

[@Rahul24Prajapati]

Great explanation, thanks a lot...

[@aruizsilva]

Thank you so much for this

[@Teh-Penguin]

Thanks! Very well explained imho.

[@BryanBloom]

Excellent video!

[@kayef5724]

thank you, great video

[@kerandonovan7255]

Fantastic tutorial

[@droklass]

Really great channel, I learned a lot of things, thank you so much.

[@Certbros]

You're very welcome! Happy to help.

[@MrRic716]

Thank a lot :) well explained

[@AbachiriProduction]

ty best explanation i have found

[@moe583]

Amazing explanation

[@sandeepreyyi5124]

Thank you so much sir 🙏

[@alvinmwangi]

very digestible. well done

[@andrewmcnamara3959]

The first 3 seconds proved this fella understands my pain

[@Certbros]

We've all thought it! 😂

[@atman84]

wonderful content!

[@amad8099]

Absolutely brilliant! Thank you!

[@shashankprakash4517]

How can we build on the information from this video? What would be next?

[@divkaran9102]

Good explanation, thx

[@vback4238]

Best explanation!!!!

[@RunZettabyte]

very helpful!! thanks

[@gregoryopondi3652]

liked and subscribed. for a whole week, I've been searching for an explanation that could make me understand APIs. This was it!

[@MsHardland]

CertBros, If you don't mind, Can you please share your mic model number and setup detail?

[@behrad9712]

perfect!👌

[@lakshanmadhushanka8541]

Great video. Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[@ruddy_winter9469]

The thumbnail was exactly the question i had in my head.

[@ayeshashakeel]

This was the best explanation of API's I've seen so far. Thanks a lot!

[@NathanHedglin]

*Server API. This isn't what an API is.

[@bruvhellnah]

@@NathanHedglin how do they differ?

[@TheSaintsVEVO]

@@bruvhellnah To me and most people if you just say “API” it means a “Web API”. It’s a way by which you can send messages over the internet to an application and interact with it. “API” in general means an interface to interact with applications using code (this interaction is not necessarily over the internet) But either way, usually when most people say “API” it means “Web API”.

[@mohammadzaiter9607]

Best explanation!

[@Certbros]

Thank you Mohammad!

[@malkhazarabuli8903]

Amazing!!!! Thanks

[@RaulDiaz3d]

Thank you so much

[@niazakaria2819]

Thank you!

[@attouchimohamed572]

This is really entertaining 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@Certbros]

Thank you Attouchi!

[@tigranavagyan5922]

Thank you!!!

[@orleydoss3171]

Great information and nicely done👍

[@Certbros]

Thanks Orley! Really appreciate it 👍

[@emmanueladuku8136]

You are F**ing Good man...I always stay tuned to your channel awaiting your contents like a young man waiting for his favourite music to get played on his favourite FM station...I wish to meet you some day..you make my IT journey feel like biscuits.😂

[@Certbros]

Thank you so much Emmanuel 🙏 Really appreciate the kind words. Comments like these are why I keep making these videos. Good luck with your IT journey.

[@twang31]

Thanks you so much for a simple to the point explanation. Best video that explains api, yet.

[@barbobrien9318]

Well done.

[@RaninSaadi-ij5hg]

thank you sooo much

[@JohnSezam]

Could speak about node.js and relation with Back-end and Database using API technologies

[@Aratolotl]

This is the best video explaining this concept. I am a designer and know some front end, and although I had a notion of these concepts, with this video everything is crystal clear.

[@biggestghost1302]

You earned the subscribe on this one

[@KapitanZbik2138]

The simplest and the best explanation, thank You very much!

[@justcode7326]

I already knew what is API still i watched complete video because you are #$÷*@ing awesome

[@Certbros]

Thanks man! Really appreciate it. That's why you're awesome too ☝

[@sanjeevKumar-eg6hp]

What an amazing explanation. Thanks for the knowledge man.

[@sukighataore8257]

Excellently explained! !!!! Thank you soooo soooo much.

[@faroukthenoob-ftn9610]

Thanks mate

[@zenrobotninja]

So happy I found this channel, really great explanations

[@moali-mo4dl]

now that's some thorough Explanation! thanks

[@SaintTwitch1]

I hadn't thought about the term in the past only coming accros it a few time but this was a lot more interesting then i thought, great video.

[@lherfel]

nice video explanation thanks

[@yalebass]

the practical example with the KZbin API was REALLY helpful, thanks!

[@HappinessTheBrand]

So clear

[@shaileshsundram]

Such a dope explanation. One of the best out there.

[@slee2054]

Thank you so much! your channel is awesome!! I've learned a lot thanks

[@isimoto]

Exactly what I needed. Thank you !

[@Certbros]

Thank you Iulian! Good to hear it helped 👍

[@shivanimishra2448]

Beautiful

[@LovesGrilling]

I like how the intro music is the hottest rap beat since 2007

[@nyasiam.2819]

Thank you

[@zer001]

One question, these are REST or Web API's. What is for Example with the Win32 API? This is an API to. What is the difference?

[@TijmenZwaan]

An API is just any interface provided by the developers of a piece of software that allows other parties to use it without having access to the source of that software itself. REST and other Web API's often use a common standard for what this interface is supposed to look like, which is outlined in this video. In their case, using the API means sending a web request to the server that's running the software you want to use that has the API. However, many APIs are not web-based. The Windows API provides functionality to allow programmers to create programs that run within windows, without having access to the source code of windows. For example, it provides the capability of creating buttons, windows, send files to the printer, start up a new process thread, etc. These are usually just methods within a library within a programming language, and don't have anything to do with web requests like a web api. Basically, an API is just the concept of giving a specific set of access points to your application that can be used by another program instead of by the user itself. It's basically the user interface for the programs themselves. So where a human might want to do something with an app by pressing a button, a program will do that thing by calling into the API. Whatever that API looks like is completely determined by the people making it. REST is just a common standard of how to create an API that's generally easy to work with in online applications.

[@oksanakulkovets5692]

I've understood 😊

[@SpesMagisteriiGradus]

thank you

[@kemon3733]

Was looking for a video to watch while eating my supper. Why now eat and learn