Tag: app development

web-application-development

The Role of APIs in Web Application Development

Posted on | by Agency Partner Interactive

Web application development involves creating software applications that run online, accessible through web browsers. Web applications can range from simple websites to complex systems that power businesses or organizations. One of the key factors driving the evolution of web application development is the increasing use of web APIs.  

In this blog post, we’ll explore the role of APIs in web application development and why they are becoming increasingly important. 

What Is an API? 

API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of protocols, tools, and routines for building software applications that allow these applications to interact and communicate with each other. APIs provide developers with a standardized way of accessing and exchanging data between software applications.  

This simplifies the development process and allows developers to create more powerful and efficient software applications. APIs are widely used in web application development, enabling developers to connect different web app services and data sources and integrate them seamlessly into their applications. 

How Does an API Work? 

APIs provide an established way of exchanging data and functionality between different software applications, enabling developers to build more powerful and efficient applications. APIs can use different protocols and formats to communicate and exchange data, including HTTP, REST, SOAP, JSON, and XML. 

When an application uses an API, the following steps typically occur: 

  • The developer of the application sends a request to the API. This request can take various forms, depending on the specific requirements of the API and the application, which include a URL, request parameters, or a message containing specific data or instructions.
  • The API may access a database or other data source to retrieve or perform the requested operation, which can also authenticate the request to ensure that the requesting application has the necessary permissions to access the data or perform the operation. 
  • The response typically contains the requested data or the result of the requested operation, which can take various forms depending on the specific requirements of the API and the application. The response may include a JSON or XML file, an HTTP status code, or other data or instructions. 
  • The application processes the response and uses the data to perform various functions and operations, which can be used to display information to the user, perform calculations, or update a database or other data source. 

Benefits of Using APIs in Web Application Development 

APIs provide a range of benefits to web application development, including: 

Reduced development time 

APIs can significantly reduce development time by providing pre-built, ready-to-use code that developers can easily integrate into their web applications. This saves your time and effort and enables developers to focus on building unique features and functionality for their web applications. 

Enhanced functionality 

APIs enable developers to access features and functionality that would be difficult or time-consuming to build from scratch. This allows developers to add more features and functionality to their web applications, making them more powerful and efficient. 

Increased security  

Enhanced security in the context of APIs in web application development refers to implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches, which involves implementing security measures related to authentication and authorization, data protection, and communication security.  

Improved user experience 

APIs can improve the user experience of web applications by enabling developers to integrate other web app services and data sources into their web applications. This includes social media platforms, payment gateways, and search engines. By integrating these services, developers can provide more value to users and enhance the user experience. 

Better collaboration 

APIs exchange data between different applications, enabling better collaboration between web app services and data sources. This means developers can connect their web applications to other web app services and data sources, enabling seamless integration and collaboration. 

Examples of APIs Used in Web Application Development 

APIs are widely used in web application development to enable seamless integration with other web app services and data sources. Some common examples of APIs used in web application development include: 

Social media APIs 

Developers can use social media APIs to incorporate prominent social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram into their online apps. This can include features such as social login, social sharing, and social media feeds. 

Payment gateway APIs 

Payment gateway APIs enable developers to integrate payment processing into their web applications, including features such as credit card processing, digital wallets, and other payment methods. 

Search engine APIs 

Search engine APIs allow developers to integrate search functionality into their web applications, including features such as auto-complete, search suggestions, and search results. 

Final Thoughts: APIs in Web Application Development  

APIs play a critical role in web application development by enabling seamless integration with other web app services and data sources. To recap, APIs  

  • Simplify development 
  • Reduce development time and cost 
  • Enhance functionality 
  • Improve the user experience 
  • Enable better collaboration between web app services and data sources 

The future of web application development with APIs is promising as more web app services and data sources become available for integration. With the increasing use of APIs, developers can build more powerful, efficient, and cost-effective web applications that provide more value to users. 

As the importance of APIs in web application development continues to grow, API developers must stay current with the newest trends and technology. By leveraging the power of APIs, developers can build web applications that provide more value to users, enhance the user experience, and drive business success. 

Achieve Your Web App Development Goals with Our Comprehensive Services 

Agency Partner Interactive provides seamless integration between web app services and data sources, leveraging the power of APIs to enhance web applications’ functionality and user experience. 

Our web application development and API integration expertise have helped hundreds of clients succeed online. With over 1800 web development and design projects under our belt, we’ve perfected the art of creating custom mobile and web apps tailored to your business needs.  

Ready to get started? Get your free personalized proposal now! 

app_development

How Much Does it Cost to Make an App in 2020

Posted on | by devops
Expert Tips on Application Development

If you’re here, then chances are you want the direct answer to “how much does it cost to make an app in 2020?” In reality, the answer varies depending on a wide variety of factors. You can’t possibly provide a universal cost when there are overseas and local options available. 

Also, there are certain things that can affect the bottom line of any app. In order to receive an accurate estimate of the costs of developing an app for your brand, you should take the proper steps of familiarizing yourself with the app development process.

As such, this guide will go over all of the details of how much it would cost to make an app in 2020.

What is the Worldwide App Development Costs?

Whether you’re a business leader or executive, you likely know of a secret production tactic that organizations across the world utilize. This is sending production overseas to save money.

This has happened for generations, and it continues to happen in the app development industry. As you can imagine, costs for developing a fully-functional app vary tremendously based on the country you enlist assistance from.

According to a report from GoodFirms, the average cost for a basic app is somewhere around $40,000 and $60,000. An app that needs a few custom functions could you run you between $60,000 and $70,000, which is good news for businesses on a budget that needs a few more accommodations with a basic app. 

A complex app with numerous custom functions could cost you more than $100,000. Now, these are the total costs of apps. Let’s say that an app developer is charging you $50 an hour and is building a basic app for you. 

The total cost based on the standard hours worked will be around $25,000, $40,000 to $70,000 for medium-complexity apps, and more than $70,000 for complex apps. Again, these rates vary from region to region. 

Here is an image to help you understand how app development rates vary in each worldwide region.

software_development

If you take a look at all of these rates, they should look a bit normal except for one thing. The app development rates in India are noticeably cheaper, which is expected since outsourcing is ubiquitous in that region.

Here comes the tricky part. You can’t just automatically send your app development project to India and expect quality. In fact, here are some things to consider before starting your app development project.

  • There are thousands of app development companies, experienced and new, local and overseas, large and small, and expensive and affordable. Selecting the right one for your brand will require in-depth consumer research.
  • A lot of misconceptions occur about finding the right app development company, such as expensive apps lead to better quality and new app companies are ill-equipped to handle large projects. 
  • Be wary of choosing cheap overseas app development companies. This isn’t to say that all of them do horrible work. Since apps are quite costly, do your research before falling too much in love with the price tag.

The last bullet is very important and will be discussed in further detail in the next section.

Local Development vs. Outsourcing

Local development is simply the act of hiring an app developer close to your place of business. Outsourcing is hiring a company that isn’t local. From a logical standpoint, it seems right to hire a local company. 

After all, you’ll be able to communicate with them face-to-face on the goals of your project. This isn’t always the case for all businesses. In fact, every business is different. Some may just have the wherewithal to purchase any type of app and wouldn’t care where they procured app development services.

Some may have a stringent budget and have to be mindful as to where every dollar is going. In the case of the latter, here are the pros and cons of hiring a local app developer vs outsourcing these services.

outsourcevslocal
As you can see, local development has its perks. You get to receive deeper involvement and straightforward communication without any hurdles. However, local companies are usually more affordable and have a limited amount of resources.

Companies outside of your region are cheaper, more flexible, have a huge talent pool along with a high-level of expertise. Though, there are some challenges regarding time zone discrepancies and a lack of being directly involved in your project.

Depending on the scope of your project and budget, you should think carefully about the selection you make. 

Time and Money Issues Relating to App Development

App development companies generally prefer to charge an hourly rate for their projects. This means that you can estimate the amount you’ll spend on an app depending on the hours of development. 

Here is a breakdown of the typical hours spent on app projects based on complexity. 

  • A basic app will take approximately 500-700 hours to complete. 
  • A basic app with custom functions will take 700-1000 hours to complete.
  • A time-consuming, complex app will often take more than 1200 hours to complete.

If you were to quickly acquire the hourly rate of a prospective app company, you would be able to determine the ballpark amount for how much you should spend. 

What Affects the Final Cost?

When you hire an app developer, you cannot expect to receive an extensive list of development costs right off the bat.

What usually happens is that you will be sent a proposal, a bill, and the company will estimate the preliminary hours it took to construct the build-out. 

App companies cannot predict other costs that may be necessary, which include:

  • Platforms
  • App maintenance
  • Functionality and features
  • Specific customizations
  • App administration and backend infrastructure
  • Structure and location of the development team

Give Us a Call Today!

Do you want to know more about how you can develop an app for your business? If so, give us a call today at (877) 682-2012 or click here to receive a free quote. 

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