Internet of things or IoT has a great potential for advancing society. It will lead to a world where all things are smart, interconnected, communicating, and improving people's life quality. The mobile app developers wish to build IoT applications using APIs or programming interfaces which help them a lot in their work.

APIs are closely linked with the internet of things as they enable one to expose the connected devices in a secured way to the customers and other apps in the IT infrastructure. As APIs connect essential things such as medical devices, cars, thermostats, energy grids to the ecosystem, it becomes crucial for deploying API management which is scalable, flexible, and secure.

In day-to-day life, everyone uses smartwatches and fitness trackers. These devices are connected to mobile phones, which link the devices to the internet and access the services of the providers. API has an important role in connecting the applications to the providers.

The APIs act like data pipes for sending the data to the internet cloud and retrieving the metrics. In addition, IoT APIs allow apps to analyze smart campus or city data, read sensors, automate appliances, use voice commands, automate smart cars, manage edge computing, and much more.

Role of API in the Internet of Things

API is the set of protocols, routines, and tools to create software applications, and it specifies how software components must interact. In API development, developers can create context-based apps that interact with the real world and not just through UI. For achieving IoT, multiple types of APIs are needed for all devices. This allows data flow over the internet protocols for delegating and managing authorization. APIs help developers create applications that can integrate well with web services and mobile gaming applications.

Moreover, APIs are time savers and offer convenience to end-users for logging out or into the websites. It also aids in enhancing the user experience by allowing to build of a mashup of several web services. IoT means creating new apps, and wherever you may go in this field, you will need API for sure. From mobile gaming to restaurant booking apps, everything uses API in present times.

Different API Types in IoT

APIs in IoT is usually the web services application programming interfaces, and it comes in several forms like SOAP, XML/JSON, or REST. Web services are software that gives access to the services via web address which is URL. Then the web service provides its information so that other apps can parse through or understand it. Some major examples are APIs of Google maps, Flickr, etc. Moreover, HTTP requests also keep information in the top part and the message’s body. These requests include various metadata types like content type while the body contains data formats like JSON and XML.

1. SOAP

It is the protocol that defined a communication method between server and client-side. The data transfer happens in XML format. The web service using a definition language publishes its interface definition in the machine-readable document.

2. JSON and XML

JSON and XML are older methods compared to SOAP. Rather than using a specific data transfer format, these methods utilize a much simpler approach for calling and use less bandwidth.

3. REST

Representation State Transfer helps for establishing the communication of your electronic devices with the world. REST APIs are architectural principles and not just a protocol. Certain features required for REST services include interfaces simplicity, resources identification in the request. It also can manipulate the specific interface.

Top APIs In the Category of Internet of Things

The IoT has hundreds of APIs, but there are a few which are the most popular. Here are some APIs for IoT listed based on web traffic:

1. Google Assistant

The API of Google Assistant delivers a way for managing and conversing with devices. It enables voice control, language understanding, hot word detection, and other services.

2. Garmin Health

The Garmin Health application programming interface enables the mobile app developer to use the health-related data collected from the wearables of Garmin. The data shows steps, calories, sleep, heart rate, stress, intensity, and more. Nearly thirty activity types are monitored using the API.

3. Withings API

The company Withings focuses on IoT app development for measuring devices like monitors of blood pressure, scales and can send the health-related information to the internet. The API allows third parties to access the activity data of users.

4. Apple HomeKit

The HomeKit of Apple offers a platform for apps, devices, and services. By using Siri, users can easily control their devices through their voices.

Conclusion

Without the usage of APIs in IoT applications, the development and growth in the technology would have halted. APIs in IoT define how you can communicate with the world while saving enormous resources and time.