Unlocking Mobile Functionality on the Web
As developers, we rely on APIs to implement complex functionalities and abstract complexity. These interfaces enable services to communicate with each other, allowing us to post tweets, display maps, and more. When building client-side web applications, we can categorize web APIs into two groups: Browser APIs and Third-party APIs.
Browser APIs: The Building Blocks of Web Development
Browser APIs interface with JavaScript, making it easy to implement functionalities. Examples include the DOM, Fetch, Audio and Video, WebGL, Notifications, and many more. These APIs provide a foundation for web development, enabling us to create dynamic and interactive web experiences.
Third-party APIs: Unlocking External Functionality
Third-party APIs, provided by companies like Google, Facebook, and Trello, allow us to access their functionality via JavaScript and integrate it into our projects. These APIs expand our capabilities, enabling us to tap into external services and enhance our web applications.
Popular Web APIs
Let’s explore some popular Web APIs:
- Geolocation API: Retrieves location information of the host device
- Document Object Model API: The interface between JavaScript and HTML documents
- History API: Enables tracking and modifying the browser’s URL and history data
- Canvas API: Displays visual graphics on the page using a
<canvas>element - Web Animations API: Combines the benefits of CSS transitions/animations and JavaScript-based animations
Mobile Functionality Web APIs
In this article, we’ll delve into five mobile-friendly Web APIs that bring native mobile functionalities to the web:
Web Share API
The Web Share API enables sharing functionality on websites, providing a mobile-native sharing experience. It allows sharing text, files, and links to other applications on the device.
Contact Picker API
This API grants access to the user’s contacts or phonebook, enabling features like airtime recharge in fintech web apps.
Clipboard API
The Clipboard API allows web users to access the system clipboard, performing basic clipboard operations like copying, cutting, and pasting.
Web Speech API
The Web Speech API brings speech recognition and text-to-speech features to the browser, improving accessibility and user experience.
Notification API
The Web Notification API displays information to the user, often used in progressive web applications to notify users of updates.
Future-Proof APIs
We’ll also explore three APIs that should have widespread support among browsers in the future:
Screen Wake Lock API
This API allows developers to control the power state of the device when the web app is running.
WebXR Device API
The WebXR Device API enables developers to build mixed-reality applications for the web.
Web NFC API
This API allows sites to read and write to NFC tags when they are in close proximity to the user.
By leveraging these APIs, we can create web experiences that mimic mobile functionalities, providing a more seamless and engaging user experience.