First API steps

Python, I choose you!

• APIs are developed using a back-end language
• Code runs on a server
  
• Back-end language used for this course: Python
• Why?
  • Previous knowledge (1 ITF)
  • Small learning curve (easy to learn)
  • More and more often used in IT applications
  • Dictionaries (built-in in Python) can be used to create JSON code

First API steps

Postman

Download Postman: https://www.postman.com/downloads/, create an account and log in

• Postman: software to test APIs
• Initially released in 2012 by Abhinav Asthana
• Free core functionality

Using Postman

Request 1

From the workspace: open a new tab to create your first API request

Enter the following link in the 'search bar' and press 'Send':

http://numbersapi.com/random/math

Watch the result in the bottom screen section

Result: a random fact about math The result of your query is a piece of plain text

Request 2

Enter the following link in the 'search bar' and press 'Send':

https://api.nationalize.io?name=michael

Use your own name in the link

Result: JSON code containing probable countries (by country code)