Why Free APIs Matter and How to Use Them
Tags: webdev, tutorial, javascript, programming
Published: 2023-03-30 07:33:05

Most people are familiar with APIs in the context of mobile apps. When you order a Uber or check the weather on your phone, there’s an API at work in the background. But what exactly is an API? And why do [**free APIs **](https://apilayer.com/)matter? In this blog post, we’ll answer these questions and more, so you can understand how to use free APIs to power your next project.


![Image description](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/e8jr1xk676zwjx11ui40.png)

**What is an API?**

An API is an Application Programming Interface.  It is a set of rules that allow the software to communicate with each other.  APIs are used when programming graphical user interface components and they allow developers to access certain features or data within an application.  
There are many different types of APIs, but some of the most popular ones include Web APIs, Standard Operating System (SOS) calls, and Class Libraries. Web APIs: Web APIs allow you to use built-in Google tools, such as Google Maps and Google Drive, from within a webpage. For example, using jQuery, you can call the Google Maps API to create a map of your location and show it on the webpage.

SOS Calls: SOS calls are used for communicating with hardware devices that may not be compatible with your operating system.

**What are free APIs?**

API stands for “Application Programming Interface” and refers to the various means one company has of communicating with another.  An API would allow a third party such as Facebook to directly access the internal functions of an external application, such as ordering a product on Amazon.  A [**free API** ](https://apilayer.com/)is an API that is available for anyone to use without restriction or charge.  
T OS is an acronym for terms of service.

The complaint alleges that Amazon’s use of the API constitutes copyright infringement. “Amazon’s unauthorized reproduction, distribution, and public performance of this copyrighted material has caused both pecuniary and irreparable harm to the Company,” the complaint reads. “The Company has also suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable harm because it will not be able to continue to offer its products on Amazon.

The benefits of having free APIs are many and varied.  They can promote open-source development by allowing others to build upon your work. They can encourage innovation by encouraging others to come up with a better way of doing something. They can lead to increased competition among companies who are vying for the best API. They can also lead to faster product development since all the hard work of developing an API has been done by someone else. By opening up an API and allowing external access to its data and functions, you can often increase the number of applications that are available to you.

**How can you use free APIs?**

Free APIs are important because they allow developers to access data and resources that they otherwise would not have access to.  For example, the Google Maps API allows developers to embed Google Maps into their own applications.  This is valuable because it allows them to provide their users with a more immersive experience. It’s also a win-win situation because Google is able to extend the reach of its services and developers are allowed to freely use Google’s service.

In addition to free APIs, Google offers a number of paid services as well. For example, Google Apps for Business is a service that allows users to get more out of the services that are built using Google APIs. This allows Google to make money directly from its APIs. Even though these APIs are not open to the public, Google has created a lot of value for developers by providing all of these APIs. In return, developers are willing to pay for access to these paid services.

**Why do free APIs matter?**

API stands for “Application Programming Interface” and refers to the various ways one piece of software can talk to another.  An API would allow a third party such as Facebook to directly access the various functions of an external application, like ordering a product on Amazon.  A [**free API**](https://apilayer.com/) is an interface that is made freely available by its creator for other developers to use and build upon. The Anki Cozmo is the first consumer robot from Anki. It’s a cute little robot that can play games, recognize objects, and has a few other tricks up its sleeve. It connects to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth and delivers short but cute little messages.
You can play games with it, battle a friend’s Cozmo, or watch it react to an object in one of several pre-recorded ways. Anki claims to have spent 5 years on the design and development of Cozmo. They’re starting to ship pre-orders now, and will be selling the Cozmo for $180. The company has a history of releasing educational toys and games, but this is its first robot. Cozmo is a pretty cool little robot, but there are some drawbacks. First, it’s not fully autonomous.