Web APIs were in use for websites and automation long before the advent of mobile phones. However, with the introduction of the iPhone and later Android, simple HTTP APIs became essential for delivering the digital resources and functionalities we now take for granted in mobile applications.
The emergence of mobile networks, new web browsing experiences, and app marketplaces significantly shifted the requirements for APIs. Previous technologies like SOAP and XML web services were too cumbersome for mobile applications, making simple HTTP and JSON the preferred choice for developers.
Nearly 20 years later, mobile applications continue to rely on web APIs, which are also widely used across desktop, web, and artificial intelligence platforms.