Python Lecture 6 Working With APIs in Python
Python Lecture 6 Working With APIs in Python
Introduction to APIs
APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, allow different software systems to communicate with
each other. They define the methods and data formats for requesting and transferring data. APIs are
ubiquitous in modern software development, enabling features like social media integrations, data
The 'requests' library in Python simplifies making HTTP requests to APIs. It supports methods like
GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, which correspond to reading, creating, updating, and deleting
resources, respectively.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format that's easy for humans
to read and write, and easy for machines to parse and generate. The 'requests' library can easily
handle JSON responses, allowing for the easy integration of API data into Python applications.
To put theory into practice, we'll build a simple application that uses a public API to fetch and display
data. This example will demonstrate making a request, parsing the response, and handling errors.
Introduction to Python Programming
Error Handling
Error handling is crucial when working with APIs. The 'requests' library provides built-in mechanisms
to identify and handle different types of HTTP errors, ensuring the robustness of your Python
applications.