If you’re a developer, chances are you’re familiar with the concept of application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs provide developers with a set of tools to work with, allowing them to quickly and easily create applications, websites, and other software.
But what many developers may not realize is that APIs can also be used to solve everyday problems. From integrating with popular web services to connecting to databases and more, APIs can help you build powerful solutions to common problems.
In this article, we’ll look at 20 of the top APIs that you can use to solve everyday problems. Let’s dive in!
What Are APIs?
API stands for "Application Programming Interface."
APIs allow third-party developers to access and use the functionality of a particular application in a way that is not directly related to the application itself.
For example, a popular API for Twitter is the Twitter API. This API allows developers to access all of the functionality that is available on Twitter, including creating and managing accounts, posting tweets, and following others.
1. Google Maps Geocoding API:
This API provides developers with a way to convert addresses or place names into geographic coordinates, and vice versa. You can use this API to build location-based applications, such as maps, or to provide users with directions.
2. Twilio API:
Twilio’s API allows developers to build communication solutions such as text messaging, voice calls, video calls, and more. It’s useful for applications such as customer service solutions, appointment reminders, and more.
3. Stripe API:
Stripe’s API enables developers to quickly and easily accept payments from customers. This API can be used to create powerful ecommerce applications, and it supports a variety of payment methods.
4. SendGrid API:
SendGrid’s API provides developers with a way to send emails at scale. With this API, you can send newsletters, promotional emails, and more.
5. Amazon S3 API:
Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) API allows you to store and access large amounts of data. This API can be used to store documents, images, audio files, and more.
6. Spotify API:
Spotify’s API enables developers to integrate music into their applications. With this API, you can create powerful music streaming applications, or even enable users to control their music from within your app.
7. Slack API:
Slack’s API provides developers with a way to integrate the popular collaboration platform into their applications. With this API, you can create powerful collaboration solutions, such as team chatrooms, task management apps, and more.
8. Dropbox API:
Dropbox’s API allows developers to integrate the popular cloud storage service into their applications. With this API, you can create powerful file storage and sharing applications.
9. Google Fonts API:
Google’s Fonts API provides developers with a way to access the vast library of fonts available on Google Fonts. With this API, you can easily integrate the fonts into your applications, allowing you to create powerful design solutions.
10. Twitter API:
Twitter’s API enables developers to integrate the popular social network into their applications. With this API, you can build powerful solutions, such as message bots, contests, and more.
11. Microsoft Graph API:
Microsoft’s Graph API enables developers to integrate the powerful Office 365 suite into their applications. With this API, you can create powerful solutions such as document processing, collaboration tools, and more.
12. YouTube Data API:
YouTube’s Data API enables developers to access information about YouTube videos, such as thumbnails, views, likes, and more. With this API, you can build powerful video solutions, such as search engines and analytics tools.
13. Facebook Graph API:
Facebook’s Graph API provides developers with a way to integrate the popular social network into their applications. With this API, you can build powerful solutions, such as social media marketing tools, customer service applications, and more.
14. IBM Watson API:
The IBM Watson API allows developers to tap into the power of the IBM Watson AI platform. With this API, you can create powerful AI-driven solutions, such as chatbots, natural language processing tools, and more.
15. Google Cloud Vision API:
Google’s Cloud Vision API provides developers with a way to access the power of Google’s image-recognition technology. With this API, you can create powerful applications, such as facial recognition systems, object detection tools, and more.
16. Google Maps Directions API:
Google’s Directions API provides developers with a way to get directions between two points. With this API, you can build powerful navigation solutions, such as turn-by-turn directions, or even provide users with estimated travel times.
17. OpenWeatherMap API:
The OpenWeatherMap API provides developers with a way to access weather data. With this API, you can create powerful solutions such as weather forecasts, or weather-based push notifications.
18. Twilio Programmable SMS API:
The Twilio Programmable SMS API enables developers to integrate text messaging into their applications. With this API, you can create powerful solutions, such as two-
19. GitHub API
GitHub offers a Rest API that enables developers to automate repetitive tasks and achieve new levels of functionality across their projects and in their repositories. The GitHub API pulls information directly from GitHub and returns it in the JSON format. Additionally, multiple developers working on the same project can automatically update pull requests and commits on branches of repositories.
Just a few of the functionalities the API is capable of are:
- Code management
- Collaboration
- Deployment
20. Yahoo Finance API
The YH Finance API is a free tool that enables you to pull stock market data directly from Yahoo Finance. It can retrieve both real-time information as well as historical data, so you can accurately examine a financial security.
The API is fairly small compared to others on this list, and does not feature the most comprehensive documentation. It features a total of 11 endpoints. Nine return information related to securities, and the other two show market trends.
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