What is Server API? Well, an API is just a group of protocols and/or standards that are established by an organization or a software provider. An example of an API would be the HTTP, the Hypertext Preprocessor or the XML. A server side API would be a series of commands and/or functions that are initiated by a client using a client-server application. So, a server API, also known as back-office functions, is basically any kind of programming interface used to access the internal data structures and functionality of a system.
So, what is an easy way to send a text message, or an email, or anything else? Well, for example, if you need to send an email, you could use your email client, or if you wanted to send a text message, you could use your smartphone’s SMS platform. But, both of those are examples of “client-server” interactions, and both of them require an application (back-office) application to perform.
So, what is an easy way to send a text message, or an email, or anything else? Well, again, for example, if you want to send an email, you could use your email client, or if you wanted to send a text message, you could use your smartphone’s SMS platform. However, both of those examples are using “client-server” technologies, where the actual interactions are between two (or more) programs. And, we all know about some of the problems with client-server technologies. Example: Java.
And, on top of those problems, there is one other major problem with client-server systems: scalability. Basically, the system becomes extremely slow, or even just stops working altogether when there is too much system “chatter” going on inside it. If there is too much system “chatter” going on, the performance will deplete its battery in no time at all. This means that your application will have to kick off and restart every few seconds, until the communication can be repaired. This can seriously affect your company’s productivity.
And, the other problem with “client-server” technologies is that they can make the system very unstable. The server might go down for some reason or the other, leaving the user (or the browser or whoever tries to read the page) on a dead end. This can seriously harm your business, especially if your website goes down frequently. For example, if your website’s web server goes down, your user’s website will not be accessible.
So, what is server API? Well, server API is the standard protocol implemented by websites, which allows the application, browser, and operating system to communicate with each other. Now, you may ask – why would anyone want to expose an internal system function that may be called “internal” in another language? Simply put, when developers or designers are working on a piece of software, they do not want to have to deal with the server, but instead with the “API”.
So, they expose these internal functions through a “dust” layer, so to speak. However, if the server goes down, this “dust” layer is not of any use for the user or anybody else who may want to read or manipulate the server’s internal data structures. So, if you think about this, it makes sense. You may even say that exposing an internal system function is like peeling off the top layer of the onion, while leaving the rest pretty much intact – this is why the terminology “Server API” is used to describe such functions.
But what is server PHP? Well, server PHP is actually a language used to create PHP scripts that run inside other PHP scripts. Basically, when a client connects to your web server, the PHP scripts it needs to run will run right alongside your web pages. You see – it is a form of “augmentation”, where you can actually integrate your website (or any other web service) into your server. In the world of web development, this is actually a very advanced feature, and it is used quite often nowadays. So, next time you are thinking of getting an expert developer for your site, make sure that he knows about server PHP as well!
