API: Short for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. It acts as a mediator, enabling the exchange of data, features, and functionalities between apps. APIs simplify software development by allowing developers to integrate existing services rather than building them from scratch.
Examples of APIs:
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Weather App: A weather app on your phone uses an API to fetch weather data from a weather service’s database. The app sends a request to the weather service’s server, which responds with the current weather conditions1.
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Social Media Login: When you use your Google or Facebook account to log into another service, you’re using an API. The service requests your login credentials via an API call to Google or Facebook, which then verifies your identity and grants access2.
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Payment Processing: Online stores often use APIs to integrate third-party payment services like PayPal. When you choose to pay with PayPal, the store’s website sends an API request to PayPal to process the payment3.
HMR: Hot Module Replacement. During the webdev process, it allows developer to instantly update the content of the web page without losing time to recompile or deploying.
PaaS: Open source distributed Platform as a Service. Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model that provides a complete environment for developing, running, and managing applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure4. It allows developers to focus on writing code while the PaaS provider manages the hardware, software, and other resources needed for application development and deployment.
SaaS: Software as a Service (SaaS) is a cloud computing model where users access software applications over the internet, typically through a web browser, without needing to install or maintain the software on their own devices. This model allows for subscription-based payment and provides benefits like automatic updates and scalability.
SDK: Source Development Kit. Essentially, this constitutes a suite of programmatic instruments that enables users to engage with an extant product in order to develop tailored functionalities. For instance, a software developer might utilize the iOS SDK to design bespoke applications specifically for the iPhone.
