Nowadays, APIs are present in nearly all electronic devices. Smartphones, Alexa, smart TVs, and even cars are just a few examples of everyday items that rely on this technology. To help explain the concept, imagine you're purchasing a concert ticket online. When you enter your payment details, the website requests biometric authentication to verify your identity and complete the transaction. Can you picture it? That’s an example of interacting with an API.
The acronym API is a common term in the tech world. But what is an API, and what is it used for? We'll explain in this article. Have a good read!
What is an API
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and protocols that enable communication between different systems and platforms. Basically, this tool acts as a bridge, transferring information from one system to another. Put even more simply, an API allows developers to integrate various functionalities into different applications without needing to understand all the internal details of those systems.
In the ticket purchase example, the programming interfaces are used in biometric authentication. Biometric APIs collect biometric data and send it to a secure server. The system then verifies whether the submitted biometric data matches the user. If there’s a match, the transaction is approved within seconds. This means that a developer doesn’t need in-depth knowledge of biometrics to use the authentication service.
Without this tool, the ticket sales website would need to develop a biometric authentication system from scratch, which would require significant time and investment in technology. Additionally, integrating different systems would be far more complex and prone to errors.
How an API works in practice
Now that you know what an API is, let’s explore how this tool works in practice. The process can be broken down into three main stages:
- Request: a request is made by a system, known as the client system (such as a website or app), to retrieve data.
- Processing: the API receives the request, interprets the data, and communicates with the server or database to obtain the necessary information.
- Response: the API sends the requested data back to the client system, which uses it to deliver the desired service.
This entire flow happens in milliseconds, ensuring speed and efficiency in the exchange of information. Now, let’s look at some everyday scenarios where APIs are used:
Online payments
When someone makes an online purchase, it’s an API that handles the payment process. The tool connects the shopping website to the payment system, enabling the transaction to be processed securely and quickly.
Location services
Apps like Uber, Google Maps, and Waze use APIs to display real-time locations and calculate routes. When a route is requested, the API accesses traffic data and calculates the estimated path.
Voice command devices
Devices like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant rely on APIs for natural language processing (NLP) and integration with services like Spotify, Deezer, and YouTube. For example, when someone gives a voice command to play a song, the action is executed via an API.
Why APIs are important
In addition to enabling connections between different services, APIs provide practical solutions that simplify daily tasks. Here are some key benefits:
- Integration: connect different systems in a simple and agile way.
- Scalability: allow applications to grow and adapt to user demands.
- Security: intermediate and protecting sensitive data.
As organizations increasingly rely on software-based solutions, APIs become indispensable. In this context, BioPass ID offers robust biometric APIs to integrate biometric authentication into various systems.
Biometric APIs
Biometric APIs serve a wide range of applications, enabling companies to implement authentication solutions quickly and reliably. BioPass ID’s APIs are designed to adapt to any device while ensuring high scalability. This means these tools can be implemented in both small businesses and large corporations. Check out the details:
Multibiometrics API
The Multibiometrics package combines essential biometric identification features for any device or scale. It supports multiple biometric modes, including facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, while enhancing security through multifactor authentication.
Through these APIs, a cloud-based multibiometric database is provided for adding, updating, and verifying data.
Quality API
The Quality API package improves the quality of biometric capture. Following the FBI's NFIQ quality standard, it optimizes identification and verification processes, delivering better results in less time. The solution detects potential noise in biometric data and identifies fraud attempts.
Unlike physical products, APIs can be updated and deployed quickly, allowing organizations to adapt swiftly to market demands and customer needs. With a flexible structure, BioPass ID’s solutions enable seamless integration of biometric technologies while fully complying with the General Data Protection Law (GDPL).
How to integrate biometric API services
In this article, we’ve explored what an Application Programming Interface is, how it works, and why it’s essential for system integration and data security. In summary, APIs can be understood as intermediaries between two different systems. Specifically, biometric APIs allow companies to adopt authentication solutions without requiring in-depth knowledge of biometrics. Through the Multibiometrics and Quality packages, BioPass ID simplifies the implementation of biometric technologies such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning.
More and more organizations are leveraging APIs to boost operational efficiency and reduce costs. Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these 4 steps to integrate a BioPass ID biometric API.
