5 APIs every frontend developer should know

An API may be one of the most abstract things in the technology industry, but it's also one of the most useful, meaning a revolution in terms of communications and integration. Its acronym in English stands for Application Programming Interfaces, which refers to a series of protocols that make it possible to design and integrate software and applications.

What does an API allow? A BBVA API Market article defines it perfectly: An API “facilitates the exchange of messages or data. A set of functions and procedures that a library provides for use by other software as an abstraction layer, a space for accessing and exchanging additional information on top. Thus, one uses the other's information while remaining independent."

What is Frontend Development?

A frontend developer is in charge of the design and implementation of the interface of the web page or mobile application. His responsibility is to make sure that the design created by the web designer works correctly online, for this he uses programming languages ​​such as CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

Unlike a Backend developer and a Fullstack developer, it stands out that the Backend developer is in charge of the "behind the scenes" of the application or web page and the Fullstack developer would be a mixture of both, expert in both parts. of development and that you can build an application from start to finish.

The best APIs for frontend development

JSONPlaceHolder

JSON stands for JavaScript Object Notation and works as an image positioner for developers. Among its various benefits, the following stand out:

• Developers do not need to register to subscribe.
• You don't need a complicated setup.
• It helps you create a basic API automatically.
• It comes with cross domains built-in, like CORS and JSONP.
• You share many of your connections with data.
• It is compatible with some JavaScript frameworks and libraries, such as Angular, Backbone, and more.

Fake Store API

This is an API used to do e-commerce in most cases, also ideal for prototyping shopping websites and thus being able to give fictitious data to create shopping web platforms for real stores. Also, Fake Stores supports all types of HTTP methods ((GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE). Developers can use the API with any type of project.

Provides resources for products, cart, users, and login tab.

Unsplash API

It is one of the most powerful photo engines, promoting to the developer more than 600 thousand free high-definition photos without a license. You can use the images you want at no cost.

Among its advantages are:

• It has images for personal and commercial use.
• It is free and easy to configure.
• fast and flexible
• It does not require a subscription or pay for any premium plan.

Quotes API

This is a very useful API for pages where you need phrases that catch the user's attention since it gives you access to thousands of phrases and quotes from the best minds in history. You can customize your own, plus it includes:

• Quote of the day
• Quotes by categories
• Randomly selected quotes
• Author Quotes
• Quotes by popularity

RandomUser

The Random User API is beneficial for beginners and provides randomly generated users to be used as placeholders for testing purposes.

Makes the tool similar to Lorem Ipsum. Instead of text, people are available. The RandomUser API can return multiple results by specifying generated user details such as first and last name, email, username, address, title, gender, country, and more.

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