A web API request may sometimes substitute a blockchain smart contract. For example, a smart contract could verify the current stock price or access on-chain weather data. APIs’ universality unlocks many useful features for the work at hand.
Their integration into Web3 applications is tricky. The API3 Alliance has proposed an industry-standard method for API integration. API3 is a low-cost standard gateway for decentralized applications. The vendor-neutral API Alliance is a centre for diverse APIs.