You may have probably heard about APIs for not tech-savvy people but do not know what they mean. These are known to be essentials for web developers, especially for websites used in eCommerce. APIs are most often utilised by software companies in applications, websites, and operating systems. These are used across the globe as they bring a great advantage. Read on for some of the basics that you need to know to understand APIs.
What’s an API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It consists of functions that enable data access and interaction with external software components, microservices, or operating systems. It works by delivering a user response or action taken to a system. After the system processes it, the API sends back the system’s response to the user. The simplest example of this is when you click the “add to cart” button. The API delivers this action to the website, and the website then adds your chosen product to your cart. Thus, your cart is now updated.
Common APIs for eCommerce
A vast number of APIs exist around the web, performing different functions such as finding a Facebook profile, searching for restaurants and hotels, financial technology services, and more. The most common eCommerce APIs include product information APIs, payment APIs, site search APIs, currency conversion APIs, and shipping APIs.
Postal or Zip Code APIs
Among the mentioned eCommerce APIs, postal codes are vital in shipping APIs. Zipcodes are most commonly used for delivering packages in terms of eCommerce. This API type will contain other postal code types, street addresses, or a mix of them from an external program, a user interface, a map, or manual input. The standard format of zip codes varies per country or state.
It is crucial to have zip code APIs installed in any app, program, or website to verify mailing or shipping addresses. They help in calculating shipping and distance. More so, they function by navigating and verifying cities, states, and zip data. It can also help find different places or establishments like hotels and restaurants in a given zip code. Additionally, they can provide data on weather, pollution, and the likes in an area.
There is so much you can do with zip codes. Zipcode APIs are ideal for functions that involve geographical areas or locations as a factor. You can get a zip code api with Zipcodebase. One of their most common uses is for data. It is mostly used for searching purposes such as search by details, addresses, and zip codes. To sum up, its essential function that encompasses all the tasks it can perform is delivering localised information based on zip codes.
Zip Code APIs deliver requests for information to external programs through POST or GET results. Once they acquire the data needed, they process it and return this information. This can come as either in JSON or XML format, the two interfaces of this API. You can access this directly via the requesting program.
