In answering the question "what is video API?," we first need to define the acronym API. It means "application programming interface," and the purpose of APIs is to act as a software intermediary between two systems, providing a set of rules for how they talk to each other. APIs can get servers to ping each other or to communicate with a cloud application, provide interaction between an app and an operating system, retrieve data or interact with a database.

The key benefit of APIs is that their rules-based protocols make it far easier and faster to leverage functionality from different systems than programming code from scratch. This technology is a key part of what has made modern app building possible at the scale and speeds that we've become accustomed to. Most apps and modern social media sites use APIs in the background. A video API, as its name implies, provides access to a video-related service you can build into a customized app.

What is video API: The Major Types

While there are plenty of video API services, the most common and widely-used tend to fall into one of three major types:

  • Client-side video API
  • Video streaming API
  • Video platform API

Here, we'll discuss each type of API and its major use cases. Keep in mind this is just an introduction to some of the possibilities, and is far from being a comprehensive rundown.

Client-side Video API

Client-side APIs are used to play back video on a device or in a browser. The term "client-side" simply means that the action takes place on the user's computer, as opposed to "server-side" APIs whose actions take place on a web server. Prepackaged video players will typically have their own client-side video API, providing various levels of control over playback depending on the app.

Relatively well-known examples include the AVPlayer and Exoplayer APIs on Android phones and the Encrypted Media Extensions (EME) API in web browsers.

Video Streaming API

These are also called live streaming, online TV or live TV APIs. They provide access to a video data stream hosted on a remote server or in the cloud. The API extracts the data and provides it as a continuous stream to the playback app, allowing users to watch the video without having to download it to their device. Vimeo, Dailymotion and Twitch TV are all very famous examples of video streaming APIs.

Video Platform API

A video platform API allows apps to interact with a remote video platform providing all-inclusive video services. Use of a platform API generally provides you with access to a powerful suite of bundled features that smoothly integrate a variety of client-side and server-side functionalities into one package. This is the kind of API that operates at the highest level of abstraction, meaning that it's concealing the largest amount of complexity under the surface of its routine user interactions.

Platform API is a powerful "out-of-the-box" solution that generally ties you to a specific provider. YouTube, Vimeo and Twitch are all well-known social media video platforms.

Video API for Your Business

Video APIs have been a critical technology for modern business, making it possible to leverage the power of video with agility and efficiency. Some businesses use APIs developed in-house, but most also make use of third-party APIs like those developed by 8x8. Contact us today to learn more about the power of video API for your business.