Types of APIs
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are different interfaces and protocols used in programming.
ABI (Application Binary Interface): An ABI is a low-level binary interface between two or more pieces of software on a particular architecture. It defines how an application interacts with itself, how an application interacts with the kernel, and how an application interacts with libraries. It's like an API but expressed in compiled code instead of source code.
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): SOAP is a message specification for exchanging information between systems and applications. It uses XML for data encoding and is developed in a more structured and formalized way. SOAP APIs provide a reliable and trusted way to send and receive messages between systems.
REST (Representational State Transfer): REST is an architectural style for building web-based APIs. It's not a protocol or a standard, but a set of constraints and principles that promote simplicity, scalability, and statelessness in the design. REST APIs can transfer data in a variety of formats, including XML, plain text, HTML, and JSON.
Binary Formats: Binary data formats are used when you need to deal with raw binary data directly. They are often used for performance reasons, as they allow you to work with data more compactly and with less overhead. For example, you might use a binary data format when sending and receiving data to a REST API.
GraphQL: GraphQL is a query language for APIs and a runtime for executing those queries with your existing data. It provides a more efficient, powerful, and flexible alternative to REST.
gRPC: gRPC is a high-performance, open-source universal RPC framework. It uses Protocol Buffers as the interface definition language.
JSON-RPC and XML-RPC: Both are remote procedure call (RPC) protocols encoded in JSON and XML respectively. They are simple and lightweight subprotocols of the HTTP protocol.
OData (Open Data Protocol): OData is a protocol that allows the creation and consumption of queryable and interoperable RESTful APIs. It's useful when you want to expose a data source via an API.
WebSockets: WebSockets provide a persistent connection between a client and server that both parties can use to start sending data at any time. It's useful for real-time applications.
Webhooks: Webhooks are a way for an application to provide other applications with real-time information. A webhook delivers data to other applications as it happens, meaning you get data immediately.
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