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Table of contents:

Introduction

There are many interfaces to interact with a web service. GUIs$^1$ are the most common interfaces to use a service on the web, but they are not the only choices.

So what are alternatives? Cha-Ching! API is here.

Technically speaking, API (Application Programming Interface**)** is a collection of communication protocols and subroutines used by various programs to communicate between technology products such as applications and websites.

Practically speaking, APIs are the basis of much of what keeps people digitally connected. From apps on our phones to complicated flight control systems, APIs bring otherwise disparate systems together to create single platforms. They allow applications or IoT devices to access data and create gateways to interact with external systems.

In other words, APIs help you to interact with your desired services and automate your actions through computer programs, in a delightful neat way.

  1. GUI stands for Graphical User Interface. It is a software platform that allows users to interact with web services via visual indicator representations.

Some of the differences between API and GUI

No. API GUI
1 An API permits communication between two programs. GUI allows interaction between a human and a computer program.
2 APIs require high technical skills to leverage. GUI doesn’t require too much technical know-how or the need to leverage.
3 APIs tests are fast in action. GUIs tests tend to take longer.
4 API is cheaper. GUI is expensive.
5 API allows the exchange of data through XML or JSON. GUI doesn’t allow the exchange of data through XML or JSON.
6 API allows more flexibility when it comes to automation and innovation. GUI is less flexible when it comes to automation and innovation.

FlipsideCrypto API

As you probably guessed, the velocity app on FlipsideCrypto is a GUI, backed by a powerful API that allows you to interact with indexed blockchain data provided by Flipside.

Flipside has recently offered ShroomDK NFTs (If you are a developer, the first thing that comes to your mind is SDK$^2$). These NFTs serve as API Key generators. Your API Key can be utilized with their language-specific SDKs or directly with the RestAPI.