API (Application Programming Interface)
An API — application programming interface — is a defined way for one program to talk to another. Instead of a human clicking through a website, code sends a request to a specific address and gets back structured data, usually as JSON. Think of it as an official service window a company opens so other software can ask for data or trigger actions in a predictable way.
Big platforms publish APIs so developers can build on them. They are powerful and reliable when they fit — but they come with conditions: you typically need a developer account, an approved application, an API key, and code to call them. Access is often gated to certain data, capped by rate limits, and subject to the platform's rules about what you may request and how often.
That gating is why APIs are not always the answer. When the data you want is public and visible on the page but the API does not expose it — or the approval process is heavy — scraping the public page is often the more direct route.
How it relates to 1Scrape
The official TikTok, Instagram, and Google APIs are built for approved developers, restrict the fields and volumes you can pull, and require code to use. 1Scrape is deliberately not an API: it collects the same public data through the front door — the pages any visitor can see — and hands it back as a CSV, no keys or code involved. So a marketer who would never get through an API approval can still export the public data they need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an API and scraping?
An API is an official channel a platform opens for programs to request specific data, usually with an account, a key, and code. Scraping collects data straight from public pages, the way a visitor sees them. APIs are structured but gated; scraping reaches public data an API may not offer.
Do I need an API to get data from TikTok or Google Maps?
No. The official APIs are gated, limited, and require code. A self-serve scraper like 1Scrape collects the same public data through a form and returns a CSV — no developer account or key needed.