In product design and development, leveraging existing API interfaces flexibly enhances the current design process. This article explores API interface knowledge through practical examples.
01
API Interface: Handshake in the Digital World
Imagine entering a café and telling the barista, “I’d like a latte.” The barista, using their expertise, prepares a rich latte for you. In this process, you don’t need to know how the coffee machine works or the roasting process of coffee beans; you just make your request.
The communication between you and the barista is akin to having an “interface” — it defines how you request a service and how the service responds to you.
In the software world, an interface is like a rulebook that tells different programs or services, “Hey, if you want to talk to me, here’s what you can say to me and how I might respond.”
These rules enable software components to communicate with each other without needing to understand each other’s complex internals.
To be more specific, imagine Programmer A develops Software A, and Programmer B is working on Software B.
One day, Programmer B wants to use some functionalities from Software A without diving into its entire codebase. What does Programmer A do?
Programmer A comes up with a solution: “I’ll package the functionalities you need from Software A into a function. You can then integrate this function into Software B to directly use my functionalities.” This function is what API refers to.
02
Components of an Interface: Dialogue Guide of Software
Understanding the role of interfaces and how programmers interpret and utilize each other’s interfaces involves simplifying them into five key parts: Request Method, Endpoint, Request Parameters, Response Parameters, and Response Example.
Continuing with the café scenario:
① Request Method
This is like choosing how you order your coffee. In APIs, there are two main methods: GET and POST.
GET is like standing at the café entrance with a menu in hand, knowing the prices and types of coffee (just gathering information). It’s used to request specific information from the server without altering any data. Technically, GET requests are typically used for retrieving data and can be cached.
POST, on the other hand, is like walking into the café, looking at the menu, and placing an order directly with the waiter: “I’d like a large hot latte, less sugar” (not just for information retrieval but for initiating an action, such as placing an order). The waiter records the order, information, and assigns a number. POST requests are used to send data to the server, which might create a new resource or update an existing one. They are typically not cached because they represent a new operation.
② Endpoint
The endpoint is like the café’s specific location where you interact with the barista. You need to know this address to order coffee. In APIs, it’s the specific resource location on the server, like https://api.example.com/users.
③ Request Parameters
When at the café counter, you might specify, “I’d like a large hot latte, less sugar.”
Here, “large,” “hot,” and “less sugar” are request parameters. They tell the barista exactly what kind of coffee you want.
In APIs, request parameters are specific pieces of information you send to the server, like user IDs or product types, so the server can accurately respond to your request.
④ Response Parameters
After hearing your request, the barista starts making the coffee and then tells you, “Your large hot latte, less sugar, costs $9.9.”
Here, “large hot latte,” “less sugar,” and “$9.9” are response parameters. They are the feedback given by the barista based on your request.
In APIs, response parameters are the information generated by the server in response to your request, such as order status, result codes (e.g., 200, 404), etc.
⑤ Response Example
If we describe the entire process thoroughly, it’s like providing an example of API response.
For example, after placing your order at the café, you might receive a receipt that says, “Order #123456, one large hot latte (less sugar), total $9.9, expected completion in 10 minutes.”
This receipt serves as a response example in APIs, usually in JSON or XML format, detailing how your request was processed and what the outcome is.
Related:
- Unveiling the Myths of Internet Cafe PC Longevity
- What Is Data? A Simple Beginner’s Guide to Understand
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