Third-party API Integration in Mobile Apps – Everything You Need to Know
Surely, you would be familiar with the word “API” as nowadays, it becomes a household name in the world of Web and Mobile App Development. You may have found that several Social Media Networks, News Media, and many other Platform are offering their content via APIs to use and integrate with your app. The first question that comes to mind is why should we use them in our newly created app? What kinds of advantages we can achieve and how to do it safely and efficiently? In this article, we will clear all of your doubts and also unravels the best way for Third-party API Integration in Mobile Apps.
Do you have any idea about a piece of technology that has changed our lives in the last decade? To be honest, lots of technologies are there changing our lives regularly, but mobile technology is the most influenced and left a massive impact on our lives. You can understand the scenario with mobile users that have been grown over 2 Billion in the last decades and the numbers are continuously increasing like a wildfire. Furthermore, the availability of mobile devices, along with the following technologies given below are revolutionizing the mobile industry:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Machine Learning (ML)
Internet of Things (IoT)
Everyone knows that a mobile device requires you to install an application whether it comes to chat with friends or make a stunning image of yourself. Therefore, the Mobile App Development has become a hot cup of the team that everyone would love to drink to fulfill their requirements. Similarly, it becomes a multi-billion dollar industry, where Mobile App Development Companies are offering their services of creating applications of your choice with the best mobile experience to the end-users.
Features
Moreover, Node.js is much stronger than any other framework and can easily handle requests in bulk as well as respond to them quickly. Why Node.js is a perfect choice for web application development?
Because of its five next-level features, Node.js is considered the best option, and the features are the following:
- Node Option
- ASYNC Hook
- Node Package Manager (NPM)
- Single-threaded Model
- Node Report
What is an API (Application Programming Interface)?
Before starting to learn Mobile API Integration, you should learn what API is and how it works. Artificial Programming Interface is a protocol of communication happening between segments of a program or hardware. It could be considered as a bridge that allows the interaction between different aspects of hardware and software without lagging, delays, and troubles. However, Mobile App Development Company uses APIs to connect different elements of OS, as well as Applications, Web Systems, Libraries, or Databases.
Types of APIs
Furthermore, the said services can be entertained using several protocols, subroutine definitions, as well as tools. Nowadays, different types of APIs are available; each one is built for a different purpose and released with different configuration settings, depending on the purpose. In this case, we are talking about Mobile APIs. If there’s still any confusion, then let me explain with an example: Imagine, you are in a restaurant where you order food from a person, known as Waiter. After receiving your order, the waiter goes to the kitchen and bring the food for you from there following your instruction. In this example, Wait is an Application Programming Interface.
How API works?
So, keep in mind that every one application is linked to a “Back-end Panel” or replies on third-party API to fulfill the requirements of their customers. Moreover, the applications installed on your device may send and receive data to and from a remote server using the internet connection. Similarly, at the server end, the application is responsible for retrieving, interpreting, and processing the required actions; meanwhile, sending it back to your device.
Next to that, the application on the user’s end interprets the incoming signals to display the data in your language. The all process is known as API (Application Programming Integration). If you name API as Intermediary won’t be wrong because it enables the mechanism for applications to talk to each other. In case if you are building an online food ordering app, then using the Google Map API is mandatory because no one can afford to build their maps.
What is Third-party API?
After knowing about Application Programming Interface, here you know what Third-part API is and how it works. In simple words, the Application vendor builds the API and allows other developers to integrate it in their apps to improve the functionality of their apps. It comes with a set of requirements and regulations that helps the developer to access the first-party program and system as well. In the other words, it is a communication method used for the interaction of different software components with each other, along with protocols and tools as well.
Having said that means, you can introduce some extra features and functionality that you haven’t built, to improve your app functionality, stability, performance, or more. Surely, you would be familiar with the pros and cons of the ready-made system. The same rule is also applied when it comes to the use of third-party API. We have covered some pros and cons to make you understand.
Third-party APIs – Pros
As we mentioned earlier, Third-party APIs come with extra features and functionality that you can introduce to your application for a better user experience. However, Mobile App Development Company has an option to introduce only required features to their app and exclude those who are useless to their developed app.
Customization and Flexibility
It’s not mandatory to introduce all features available in the API to your system, as you have an option to include and exclude the features. In short, you can easily customize or configure the required features following the objective of the app.
Effort and Cost Saving
Surely, using third-party APIs may not only save your effort but cost also. You don’t need to spend a huge budget on the creation of a specific feature when you can grab the same feature for free or for a few bucks. In simple words, it can reduce and balance the project cost that can be used for the app marketing to bring more users on it.
Fast Integration
If you are willing to develop the app of your dream but don’t know how to code, then you can Hire Android App Developer to make you an application. Developers from worldwide prefer to use third-party APIs, especially for the low-budget app. So, whenever you hire dedicated developers for the creation of the app, must consider using payment gateways, traveling and booking, social media authentication, Google Map, image processing feature, and other APIs in mind. Introduction of the said services to your app can be done within a few seconds. Therefore, using APIs may allow you to keep your focus only on business domains, rather than on the development of a specific feature to your app.
Better User Experience
With the use of third-party APIs, you can improve the end-user experience at different levels. Using the APIs may help you keep your focus on core functionality and work to improve it for the app’s betterment.
Third-party API – Cons
In the world, there’s nothing available that has only pros, no cons. Similarly, APIs come with both things. We already mentioned the pros above, and now going to discuss the cons and their possibilities.
- Lack of Performance
- Information Security
- Stability
- Innovations
- Technical Issues
How to Integrate Third-party API in your Mobile Application?
After knowing too much about the API and Third-party APIs, you are almost ready to learn the way to integrate APIs into your app. Although this job can be done as you Hire Dedicated Developers, you can try it yourself if you are a developer and know how to develop an app. In this section, we have covered all aspects and considerations that you should keep in mind when it comes to integrating third-party services into your app. Here you learn how to integrate any Third-party APIs in your application seamlessly.
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Step 1 – Buy Professional API Integration Services
If you don’t have any development background, then you should hire an App Development Company to integrate your favorite APIs on your mobile application. Although it costs you a few bucks, your work will be done perfectly and more efficiently.
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Step 2: Register for Application Programming Interface System
Whenever you decide to use the services offered by others, then you have to pay for their services. Having said that means, you have to register yourself on the platform of the service provider first to interact with them or to use their services. Similarly, register yourself with the API provider system and it was the second step.
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Step 3 – Receive API Key & Authentication Token
Surely, you would be familiar with Authentication Token and API key that you may receive once you register yourself for the API Provider System. Receive the key and add it to your system to get access and let your API provider identify the calling project for confirming the users have the access to make requests.
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Step 4 – Integrate the API Framework to your App
After receiving API Key and Token Authentication, you are supposed to install it to your app by using the trustworthy dependency managers, including Maven.
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Step 5: Make use of API Instances With Methods
Using the dependency added in the last step, the developers can add new functionality to your app for using those dependencies.
Popular Third-party APIs
We have compiled a list below holding some popular third-party services that you can buy for improving the performance of your application within a few seconds.
- Google Map API – It helps you add a navigation system to your application.
- Facebook API – You can use Facebook API for an easy authorization process.
- Movie Database API – It helps you create demanding applications like Netflix.
- Spoonacular API – In case you are building traveling apps, consider it an option for offering the following services: Prices, Queries, Accommodation, and Facilities.
- Skyscanner API – It is acknowledged as ideal when comes to fitness and diet apps.
Do you have an Idea?
Conclusion
There are dozens of vital things to consider when it comes to the integration of third-party APIs into your mobile application. You should keep in mind, the basic purpose of introducing APIs is to improve the application function as well as expand its functionality and end-user experience. Meanwhile, having a lot of dependency on API may leave you restricted for limited use only because whenever the API support ends, your app won’t survive. Therefore, we suggest you use APIs wisely and keep the basic functions and services to the core of your mobile app development.
