SDKs (Software Development Kits) and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are essential tools in software development. Both tools are primarily used to enhance the functionality of applications.
While their functions appear to be similar, SDKs and APIs differ in structure and use cases. Learn about their similarities and differences and how they contribute to the software development.
What Is an API?
API stands for Application Programming Interface. It allows applications to interact with each other. APIs provide an interface for a client to send requests and the webserver to respond.
As a client, when you send a request to the API endpoints it connects to a resource in the server. The API endpoint names often indicate the CRUD function they serve. The server will respond to the API with the status of the resource. The API then relays the information to the client.
Using APIs, you can incorporate third-party features into your application. You can use these features to enhance the functionality of your application. It's an efficient way of incorporating features you may not know or have time to build from scratch.
With APIs, you can quickly integrate complex features. For example, the Google API can enhance the geographical search functionality of your application. Or you can integrate payment options with payment APIs.
Building similar features from scratch requires a lot of expertise and time. Instead, while leveraging on pre-built APIs, you can achieve the same feature in a short time. Alternatively, you can build extraordinary APIs and share your endpoints publicly. You can also monetize them.
APIs can work as standalone components or can be a part of an SDK. Their structure has rules that stipulate how the exchange of information happens. The rules depend on the kind of API you are working with.
RESTful, GraphQL, Apache Kafka, and SOAP APIs are some of the popular API architectures. They differ in structure and use cases but have one thing in common, they facilitate communication between platforms, which is an essential concept in modern technology.
Benefits of Using APIs
Consider using APIs for the following benefits:
- Shortening development time by allowing the integration of features.
- Improve user experience by enhancing the functionality of applications with new services.
- Reduce the cost of developing new features for small enterprises.
- Open new revenue models for firms that create and monetize APIs.
The benefits of using APIs are endless, depending on your use case.
What Is an SDK?
Also known as a devkit, an SDK is a set of software tools for building for a specific purpose. It's a package of everything you need to develop on a platform.
SDKs include all the necessary building blocks. These can include programs, debuggers, APIs, and micro-service systems. They also include code samples for implementing supported programming languages and operating systems.
As a developer, you will enjoy using SDKs as an all-inclusive package. Once you have purchased or downloaded the SDK from the vendor's site, you can install it.
Next, open the SDK and activate the integrated development environment. Then, follow the instructions to implement the SDK into your application. They are available for most of the domains including web development, mobile development, game development, and machine learning.
AWS provides SDKs supporting various programming languages to help users integrate their services. Google has Android SDKs that assist developers in building products using their platform.
Below is a diagram of some SDKs provided on the AWS platform:
Benefits of Using SDKs
SDKs come packed with several benefits. These include:
- Increase the speed of development by providing tools and instructions in one place.
- Increase efficiency in development by making it easier to integrate tools and services.
- Revenue source, as vendors can sell their SDKs to developers at a fee.
- Reduce the cost of development by providing ready-made resources at a cheaper rate. It's more expensive to get resources and build similar features from scratch.
Now that you have a basic idea of what APIs and SDKs are, let's determine the difference between the two.
Difference Between APIs and SDKs
1. Functionality
APIs define the structure, methods, and protocols facilitating communication between two software interfaces. SDKs are not built to facilitate communication, instead, they provide pre-built programs and tools that simplify the development process of an application or service.
2. Component
APIs have a defined interface. The interface includes web services such as RESTful APIs allowing software communication. SDKs on the other hand include tools, documentation, APIs, and even IDEs needed to build software.
Some API documentation includes SDK components that you can use to implement the API functions. The SDKs are not part of the API but a standalone package. They are usually used as an alternative method to integrating the API.
For example, an API can have Python, Java, and JavaScript SDKs. Developers can use the SDKs to implement the API in those languages. The SDKs have functions and classes needed to integrate and implement the API.
API SDKs enable you to focus on implementing the desired function of the API. You don't need to understand how the API works. Most API vendors create SDKs for various programming languages. Or through package managers and repositories.
3. Usage
The main difference between APIs and SDKs is their use cases. SDKs are powerful tool sets that can build applications. You can also use them to add functionality to an existing application. They bring third-party tools and components to a developer's environment.
APIs, on the other hand, only implement certain functionalities on an application. You cannot use them to create applications. They are best used to ease communication between applications. But they can have SDKs that assist developers in executing their functionalities.
4. Flexibility
SDKs are platform-specific. Meaning they can only work within specified operating systems, hardware, or frameworks. They will not work with programs or systems outside their specifications.
APIs are more flexible. They are available through HTTP requests or libraries of programming languages. You can use APIs built from other programming languages and use them in your application.
How to Use APIs and SDKs
While different at their core, SDKs, and APIs work together. Depending on the use case, you can use SDKs to create an application. Then integrate APIs to add features and functionalities. Together SDKs and APIs are powerful tools that drive modern software development.