Web API
Hello everyone, here I’m going to talk about Web API
What is Web API
Web API is the enhanced form of the web application to provide services on different devices like laptop, mobile, and others. Today, all kind of businesses use the internet as a cost-effective way to expand their business in the international market.
Web application helps to exchange information on the internet and also helps to perform a secure transaction on web sites. Web applications are popular as the web browser is available in default, we don’t need any installation of software on computers with operating systems. For example, Facebook (a social networking web application), Flickr (a photo-sharing web application), and Wikipedia are majorly used example of a web application. Technically, a web application consists of two types of scripts:
Client-side scripts: JavaScript, HTML, and other client-side scripting languages are used to design the web forms to present information to users.
Server-side scripts: ASP and other server-side scripting languages are used to perform business logic and database related operations like storing and retrieving information.
A web application is Human-System interaction.
Either it can be single page application just to provide information for some business, or it can be a collection of web pages that are used to take some information from the user and providing the services to the user.
Why we use Web API
· If we need a Web Service and no need to use SOAP, then ASP.NET Web API is best choice.
· Used to build simple, non-SOAP-based HTTP Services on top of existing WCF message pipeline.
· Easy configuration unlike WCF REST service.
· Simple service creation with Web API. With WCF REST Services, service creation is difficult.
· Based on HTTP and so easy to define, expose and consume in a REST-ful way.
· Based on light weight RESTful architecture and good for devices which have limited bandwidth like smart phones.
· Open Source.
Examples for Web API
Web Audio API
This Web Audio API allows you to manipulate an audio stream, on the web. It can be used to add effects and filters to an audio source on the web.
Full Screen API
This API enables full screen-mode in web apps. It lets you select the Element you want to view in full screen mode. In Android phones, it will remove the browser’s window and the Android top status bar (where the network status, battery status, etc. are displayed).
Web Speech API
This API provides us with the capabilities to add speech synthesis and speech recognition to our web app.
Bluetooth API
This API lets us access the Bluetooth Low Energy device on our phone and use it to share data from a webpage to another device.
Channel Messaging API
This API allows two scripts in different browser contexts to communicate and pass messages to each other in a two-way channel.
Limitations of Web API
· Unlike Organization Service which was optimized for use with .NET, Web API can be used with different programming languages.
· Unlike Organization Service, no longer required to use libraries specific to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Web API is built on open standards.
· Plug-ins or workflow assemblies on the server still expect to use the Organization service.
· Eventually the Web API will replace the Organization service and Organization Data service.
· The Web API should be your first choice for new development that will support Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 and future versions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.
· You can use the Web API Discovery service instead of IDiscoveryService web service. The Web API Discovery service provides the same benefits as the Web API. This service enables your applications to determine, at run-time, the organizations that the signed-in user belongs to.
