
Have you ever seen a comment form on a site that looks like this?

Building apis password#
Developers who use Facebook’s API can save themselves time by not having to build their own username and password login system, instead piggybacking off of Facebook’s.Īnother way that APIs can be used is to show data stored in another platform on your website. It essentially lets you skip entering your username and password by using your Facebook account as proof that you are who you say you are. Some companies even make money using only their APIs, but before I get to that, let’s take a look at an example of an API you’re probably familiar with:Įver seen a screen like this? This is a Facebook login button, and it uses Facebook’s API to allow users to verify their identity. What is an API?ĪPI stands for “Application Programming Interface.” Before I lose you with a bunch of technical jargon, let me put it in simple terms: an API is a way for computer programs to talk to each other.ĪPIs are used in almost all software, websites, mobile apps, or computer games. If you already know why you need one, then skip down to “ Things to Consider When Building an API”, and if you are seasoned at building APIs but just want to know how you can build them without a developer, jump all the way down to “ Tools for Building APIs Without Code”.

You don’t have to understand what an API is at this point, but if you do, feel free to skip the first section and move right into “ Why Build an API?”. The term “API” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it mean? What can you use an API for? Do you have to have a developer on your team to build or use an API? In this guide, we’ll explore all those questions and more, including a spotlight on the tools you can use as a non-technical founder to build your own APIs.
