I’m trying to wrap my head around the fundamental differences between APIs and web services. From what I’ve read online, it seems like they’re related concepts but not exactly the same thing.
Is the main difference just about how data gets transmitted between systems? Or are there other important distinctions I should know about?
I’m working on a project where I need to choose between different integration approaches, and I want to make sure I understand these concepts properly before making any decisions.
Can someone explain this in simple terms? Maybe with some practical examples of when you’d use one versus the other?
totally get ur confusion! think of APIs as the general way apps talk to each other, while web services are a special type that use the web. like, all web services are APIs, but not all APIs are web services. makes a diff in choices! hope this helps!
I’ve built a bunch of enterprise systems, and here’s the main difference: APIs can live anywhere - your local app, internal network, whatever. Web services specifically run over networks for remote access. Example from a recent financial platform I worked on: We used internal APIs for user auth and data validation that never left our application server. But when we needed to connect with payment processors or credit bureaus? That’s where we built REST web services over HTTPS. For your project, think about it this way: Building components that talk within the same system? Regular APIs are faster and more secure. Need external systems to access your stuff, or want to integrate with third-party services? You’ll need web services because they use standardized protocols that play nice with networks.
The main difference between APIs and web services lies in their scope and implementation. APIs serve as contracts outlining how different software components interact, irrespective of technology. They can function within a single application, among local processes, or across networks. In contrast, web services are specifically designed for network use, relying on web protocols like HTTP, SOAP, or REST.
For instance, in a mobile app I developed, I accessed our company’s customer database using a REST web service since the database was hosted remotely. Simultaneously, I utilized local APIs for functions like camera access and GPS. The web service required an internet connection and introduced some latency, while the local APIs provided immediate access without needing the internet.
Consider whether your project requires network communication or if local API integration will suffice. Web services excel in distributed systems, while APIs are suitable for internal processes.