Mashups

• Web mashups are used to design applications that run on the internet and combine a user’s data with the data and services provided by third parties in the form of open Application Programming interfaces(API's)
• In simple term we can say like, “A mashup is a web application that uses content from more than one source to create a single new service displayed in a single graphical interface.”
• Mashups are used to quickly create custom applications, which are created to serve specific purposes and have a short lifespan.
• Mashups are created in a complex ecosystem that integrates data providers, mashup platforms, and users in an interconnected manner.
• Most mashups are visual and interactive in nature.
• To an user, a mashup should provide a richer, more interactive experience.
• A mashup is also beneficial to developers because it requires less code, allowing for a quicker development cycle.
• Google Maps API is a best mashup example, which is used to create maps for a certain location. We can combine the output of Google Maps API with other open APIs and data supplied by the user.

The reasons for success of mashup:

• End users are activated as designers/ developers.
• Popular API's including Google maps, Twitter, you-tube etc. attracts user.
• Simplicity of copying helps everyone in reusing existing resources.
• Enterprise can easily re-use their existing applications as a service for the mashing it up.
• Mashups are 100% pure Software as a Service (SaaS) and require no installation, updates, plug-ins, admin rights, or anything but a garden variety Web browser and the mashup’s URL to run.