Think of the Site Explorer API as a "database" with which a server-side scripting language (PHP) will communicate, making requests for data. A similarity can be illustrated between PHP-MySQL and PHP-Yahoo Site Explorer Link API web applications. Observe the flow charts below:
When you are using a web application API such as Yahoo, you need an "Application ID" to authenticate your application before Yahoo provides you the data. The good thing about the inbound links API is that it is FREE; you will not need to pay to gather useful data from Yahoo. However, there are limits. According to Yahoo Site Explorer, the "API is limited to 5,000 queries per IP address per day and to noncommercial use." Other details of its limitations are also available. It is also important that your use of the Yahoo Site Explorer API will not violate the usage policy.
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