While being eminently useful across a wide array of web services and apps, APIs have also given rise to a whole new sector of the computer industry – namely Platform as a Service (also called Software as a Service) which typically relies on remote computing power to perform complex actions, even on relatively low-power tablets and cell-phones. By using APIs, SaaS companies can leverage considerable processing power remotely, enhancing the user experience and empowering even the most basic of low-end tech.
However, the advantages don’t just stop there – by using APIs in the production process, experienced programmers can include tiny lines of code that effectively streamline software development and offer endless scalability to apps and websites. For example, a developer might use the Stripe payments API to include secure online purchasing services in an app or website – saving significant time writing the code from scratch and instead of calling on established and secure services.
