When computing jargon slides into the public consciousness, you know something interesting is afoot.
Don't forget: The term "internet" was once viewed as entirely arcane and technical, but when it started to appear in the popular press, it signaled a sea change in the way people communicate with one another.
These days, technical terms ease their way into the popular lexicon at a rapid clip, partly because businesses, in particular, rely on technology for everything from back-end accounting systems to marketing campaigns. Java, HTML, CMS -- even if you don't really understand these terms, you've probably heard of them, and many of them are useful for advancing in today's technology-focused workplace.
That's why I want to devote this column to what might, at first glance, seem like another bit of technical arcana -- the term API (for application programming interface). To a certain extent, you can't get a whole lot more technical than this without veering completely into the realm of the hardcore programmer. Webopedia defines an API as "a set of routines, protocols and tools for building software applications."
Why should you care about something like this? Because a lot of innovation in the online world is made possible because of APIs, and plenty of innovative companies, especially web startups, view APIs as essential to getting off the ground.
Behind this trend is a marked shift in how technology companies view their APIs. While they used to keep them under tight control, now they often make them widely available. That means innovative software professionals, entrepreneurs and others can draw on APIs as useful tools in adding features to their websites or even building entirely new companies. Not every technology company has an API with easy access for web coders and entrepreneurs, but many do, as it's a way for these companies to allow others to build new services, tools and even start-up ventures based off of their data, whether it's photos (as at Flickr) or product information (Amazon). Visit ProgrammableWeb, and you will find a website listing 1,254 APIs by popularity and category.
All of this probably sounds a bit theoretical. With that in mind, here are several examples of how APIs are influencing what consumers view on their computer screens and mobile phones. I won't get into the nitty-gritty technical details, as they vary from one situation to another, but you'll get a sense of how APIs are an essential business tool in today's hyperconnected world.
Maps: Wherever you go online, from travel websites to cycling guides, you see maps on display. That's not because those websites create their own maps. It's because other companies, such as Google and Yahoo, allow other websites to tap into their sophisticated, interactive map services via specialized APIs. Interested in this for your own business or startup idea? Check out the API pages for maps at Yahoo (developer.yahoo.com/maps/) or Google (code.google.com/apis/maps/). Though these pages include a fair share of technical details, they provide a relatively straightforward window into the world of using APIs to enliven a website or create one. Just check out TaxiWiz.com to see how an innovative website, for calculating your fare for a taxi ride, is built on an API.
The iPhone: Apple's iPhone has gotten plenty of attention for its apps -- the mini-programs running on the iPhone, for everything from Scrabble to restaurant recommendations. Created by third-party software developers, these apps are made possible with Apple's APIs for the iPhone.
Facebook: APIs are not without controversy. Facebook's APIs make it possible for other companies -- that is, other than Facebook -- to make use of Facebook users' personal data for their Facebook-related applications. Yet users, for the most part, don't seem to mind, as they've become huge fans of the seemingly endless number of applications on Facebook -- applications that are made possible with Facebook's APIs.