The Fall and Rise of Embedded Plugins: APIs For Embed Frameworks

Iframes remain a valuable tool for embedding partner integrations within platforms, enabling deep interactions through well-designed frameworks that include APIs and event triggers. These frameworks facilitate integration beyond mere embedding by providing APIs that allow partners to interact with the host environment. They also improve development experiences with SDKs and client-side libraries, which simplify API interactions and allow for easy, secure hosting of client-side code. However, complexities such as server-side requirements and compliance issues like HIPAA must be navigated, with solutions including limiting API scopes and proper authentication processes. While iframes have historically posed challenges, they continue to offer significant benefits when combined with modern APIs and design principles, although exploring alternative embedding technologies can also yield innovative platform experiences.