---
title: "Implementation of API in Android"  
description: "An API is an interface used between the user and the server. There are two types of API’s used which offers a different mechanism for connecting and r"  
author: "Prateek sharma"  
published: 2018-01-28  
updated: 2018-01-28  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11676/implementation-of-api-in-android  
category: "android apps"  
tags: ["android", "api(s)"]  
reading_time: 4 minutes  

---

# Implementation of API in Android

An API is an interface used between the user and the server. There are two types of API’s used which offers a different mechanism for connecting and receiving data. Since connecting an API with an [android application](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/779/creating-an-android-application-by-using-xml-layout) requires an [internet connection](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/299301/how-to-test-your-internet-connection-s-quality-over-time). So make sure that permission is provided in an android [manifest file](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/34663/what-is-manifest-file-in-android). Write the following in [AndroidManifest.xml](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/2588/explain-androidmanifest-xml-file-in-detail)

```
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET"/>
```

Create a layout file

```
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    android:paddingLeft="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingRight="@dimen/activity_horizontal_margin"
    android:paddingTop="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    android:paddingBottom="@dimen/activity_vertical_margin"
    tools:context="com.sample.foo.simplewebapi.MainActivity">
    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/emailText"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:inputType="textEmailAddress"
        android:hint="Enter email address"/>
    <Button
        android:id="@+id/queryButton"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="end"
        style="@style/Base.Widget.AppCompat.Button.Borderless"
        android:text="Search"/>
    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:gravity="center">
        <ProgressBar
            android:id="@+id/progressBar"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:indeterminate="true"
            android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
            android:visibility="gone" />
        <ScrollView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="match_parent">
            <TextView
                android:id="@+id/responseView"
                android:layout_width="wrap_content"
                android:layout_height="wrap_content" />
        </ScrollView>
    </RelativeLayout>
</LinearLayout>
```

You need to create the connection with the server in the [background thread](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/620/foreground-and-background-thread-in-c-sharp-threading), so to do that either you can use AsynTask class or any network library. A sample for AsyncTask is given below.

```
class RetrieveFeedTask extends AsyncTask<Void, Void, String> {        private Exception exception;        protected void onPreExecute() {            progressBar.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);            responseView.setText("");        }        protected String doInBackground(Void... urls) {            String email = emailText.getText().toString();            // Do some validation here            try {                URL url = new URL(API_URL + "email=" + email + "&apiKey=" + API_KEY);                HttpURLConnection urlConnection = (HttpURLConnection) url.openConnection();                try {                    BufferedReader bufferedReader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(urlConnection.getInputStream()));                    StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();                    String line;                    while ((line = bufferedReader.readLine()) != null) {                        stringBuilder.append(line).append("\n");                    }                    bufferedReader.close();                    return stringBuilder.toString();                }                finally{                    urlConnection.disconnect();                }            }            catch(Exception e) {                Log.e("ERROR", e.getMessage(), e);                return null;            }        }        protected void onPostExecute(String response) {            if(response == null) {                response = "THERE WAS AN ERROR";            }            progressBar.setVisibility(View.GONE);            Log.i("INFO", response);            responseView.setText(response);        }    }
```

AsyncTask has three methods onPreExecute(), doInBackground() and onPostExecute().

onPreExecute() is used for some task which need to be considered before making connection such as setting visibility of [progress bar](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/12747/android-progress-bar) etc. onPostExecute() is used for processing after the connection was completed such processing the response etc.

\

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/blog/11676/implementation-of-api-in-android

Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.