7 Most Popular APIs of 2021: A Gimmick or Legit?
Tags: webdev, programming, javascript, discuss
Published: 2021-12-09 17:03:21

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It has been popular for a long time, and is an essential component of the data-driven ecosystem and CI/CD. As APIs get more fame every passing day, and with everything that brings hype with it, people capitalize on all the attention, making it hard for us to differentiate between APIs that are actually good and APIs that are just popular gimmicks. 

So as 2021 is coming to an end, let’s see what the top 7 APIs of 2021 are, and I’ll let you judge in the comments what APIs you think are legit and what you think deserve a downvote. 

##1. Skyscanner API
Since Google self-deprecated their Google Flights API, the market has been open for developers to fill the vacuum of a travel app. So the most popular API of 2021 is the [Skyscanner API](https://www.partners.skyscanner.net/affiliates/travel-apis), a search engine for travel, hotels, flights, car rentals, etc. It has nearly a million downloads, and it’s free. 

#### Endpoints:
- Browse dates
- Browse quotes 
- Browse routes 
- Create session
- List places 
- Poll session
- Currencies
- List markets 

##2. OpenWeather API
[OpenWeather](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenWeatherMap) API is the official API of OpenWeatherMap, a company which has been dispensing weather stations with the help of their data since 1979. They gather data through over 40,000 weather stations all over the world.

#### Endpoints: 
- Current weather data
- Daily forecast weather data
- Forecast weather data
- Search weather data

##3. API Football 
Also known as Soccer to the rest of the world excluding the US, [API-Football](https://www.api-football.com/) brings you all the football-related stats that you could ask for.

#### Endpoints:

- Live scores
- Fixtures
- Standings 
- Tracker
- Sports betting 
- Creating your fantasy football 

##4. Cocktail DB API 
[This API](https://www.thecocktaildb.com/api.php) features different recipes of cocktails concocted by people all over the world. It features all kinds of drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

#### Endpoints:
- Ingredients 
- Flavors
- Origin of drinks
- best drinks 
- Non-alcoholic drinks 

##5. REST Countries 
[This API](https://restcountries.eu/) provides useful information about a country of your liking. It is completely free, and is being used by over 1200 people. 

#### Endpoints:
- Names 
- Country codes
- Currency 
- Famous Places

##6. Yahoo Finance 
The [Yahoo Finance](https://english.api.rakuten.net/apidojo/api/yahoo-finance1) API offers financial records and data to people who work closely with economics. It is free to acquire.

#### Endpoints:
- Sorting your watchlist
- Sorting your portfolio 
- Financial news
- Stocks 

##7. URL Shortener API
[URL Shortener](https://rapidapi.com/BigLobster/api/url-shortener-service/) API is an integral utility API for the backend, and is responsible for one of the many mundane tasks a person has to do daily. It is free and can make up to 3 requests in a second.  

#### Endpoints:
- Shortened URL


These APIs are well-recommended and used worldwide, but are they a hoax or are they legit? Let’s hear what _you_ think.