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The History of APIs: What was the first API?
We live in an era where everything seems connected: your mobile phone communicates with your bank, your car with the garage, your smartwatch with your nutritionist. But have you ever wondered how this invisible magic is created? The answer is simple and powerful: thanks to APIs.
In this article, we will explore the fascinating history of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), from their humble beginnings in academic environments to becoming the silent engine of the digital economy. And as consultants at Yusapi.com, specialists in integrating technological solutions for businesses, we believe that understanding this evolution is not just general knowledge: it is business strategy.
What is an API?
Before we jump into the time machine, let’s clarify the concept.
An API is a set of rules and protocols that allows two applications to communicate with each other. It’s like a waiter in a restaurant: you place your order (request), they take it to the kitchen (the system) and bring you what you asked for (response). All without you having to go into the kitchen.
APIs allow completely different systems to speak the same language. From an ordering app that connects to the restaurant’s POS terminal to an industrial ERP that synchronises data with the commercial CRM.
The early days: the 1960s and 1970s
The term API is not new. It dates back to the 1960s. The first formal mention of it can be found in a 1968 article entitled ‘Data structures and techniques for remote computer graphics’ by Wilkes and Needham. At that time, APIs were internal libraries that allowed applications to communicate with the operating system.
In the 1970s, with the rise of mainframes, IBM and other companies were already talking about programming interfaces, but the focus was purely internal: optimising how programmes were built within an organisation. The idea of sharing functionalities with third parties did not yet exist.
The 90s: APIs begin to open up to the world
In the 1990s, giants such as Microsoft began releasing APIs so that external developers could build Windows-compatible applications. If you have ever used a programme that ‘integrated seamlessly with the operating system,’ it was probably thanks to an API.
In 1999, Salesforce revolutionised the business model by becoming one of the first SaaS services to offer a public API. This allowed developers to integrate their own apps directly with Salesforce, laying the foundation for the modern concept of a platform.
2000s: The rise of web APIs
With the expansion of the internet and the advent of Web 2.0, APIs took a qualitative leap forward.
In 2002, Amazon and eBay launched their first public APIs, allowing other websites to consult their catalogues, place orders and manage payments automatically.
And in 2004, Roy Fielding, co-author of HTTP, defined REST (Representational State Transfer), an architecture that dramatically simplified the creation of web APIs, using the same principles as web browsing: URLs, HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and responses in JSON.
REST became the new standard and democratised the creation of APIs. It was no longer necessary to be a large corporation to offer integrations. Any company could do it.
Redes sociales y el efecto multiplicador
Between 2006 and 2010, the world witnessed how APIs could amplify a product’s reach:
Facebook launched its API for external developers, allowing thousands of apps to integrate with its social network.
Twitter followed suit, and tools such as Hootsuite and TweetDeck grew thanks to this openness.
APIs became distribution channels. They no longer just connected systems: they also generated ecosystems.
APIs as a business model
Starting in 2010, companies emerged whose sole product was an API:
Stripe revolutionised online payments. Its API was so simple and powerful that developers adopted it en masse. masivamente.
Twilio made it easy to send SMS messages and make calls via code.
Both demonstrated that a well-designed API can be more valuable than any graphical interface.
Since then, talking about ‘API-first’ means talking about a strategic approach: first you build the API, then everything else (web, apps, etc.).
The economy of APIs
Today we live in what many call the API economy.
Every time you pay with Bizum, order an Uber, or watch a series on Netflix, you are using multiple APIs without realizing it. Everything works thanks to small pieces of software that talk to each other in the background.
APIs enable:
Agility: connecting tools without reprogramming everything.
Scalability: growing without redoing processes.
Automation: triggering actions without human intervention..
Innovation: integrating AI, big data, or IoT into existing processes.
GraphQL and new architectures
In 2015, Facebook launched GraphQL, an alternative to REST that allows clients to define exactly what data they want to receive. This reduces the volume of data transmitted and improves performance.
Today, multiple API styles coexist (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP), but the core concept is the same: opening your software to the world to connect, collaborate, and innovate.
Hoy coexisten múltiples estilos de APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPC, SOAP), pero el concepto central es el mismo: abrir tu software al mundo para conectar, colaborar e innovar.
What does this have to do with Yusapi?
At Yusapi, we work with medium- to high-tech companies, which often have closed systems, manual processes, or mixed environments with legacy technologies.
Our mission is to connect these worlds through APIs:
Integrating ERP with CRM or the production system.
Providing dashboards that consolidate data from multiple sources.
Automating processes that previously relied on repetitive tasks.
We do this thanks to our ‘pop-up’ methodology: we temporarily integrate ourselves into the client’s team, analyse their flows and build custom APIs or use existing APIs to optimise the entire system.
Why should you have an API strategy?
Because without it, your company becomes an island. And today, businesses grow in interconnected archipelagos:
Do you have software that doesn’t connect to your website? Problem.
Do your salespeople not have real-time access to stock? Problem.
Does your billing system not integrate with the tax authorities or your bank? Problem. Problema.
A good API strategy allows you to adapt, collaborate and scale.
APIs aren't just for programmers
The history of APIs is the story of how technology went from being monolithic and closed to being distributed, modular, and integrated. APIs have allowed us to build faster, be more flexible, and collaborate seamlessly.
At Yusapi, we believe that any company, regardless of size or sector, can benefit from a good API strategy. Not only that, but we believe that not having one at this point is a competitive disadvantage.
That’s why we’ve launched the Yusapi Technology Boost Plan: a programme designed for companies that want to transform their processes, open up their systems and prepare their infrastructure for the digital future. It includes:
Free diagnosis of connectivity and technological maturity.
Design of an API-first roadmap tailored to each organisation.
Progressive integration of key systems (ERP, CRM, BI, etc.).
Training and support for the internal team.
Would you like to find out how to apply this to your company? Write to us at yusapi.com.
