What is an Application Programming Interface (API)?

What is an API?

An API (Application Program Interface) is a set of protocols, tools, and subroutines used for building software applications. An API defines the way different software components should interact with one another, allowing them to communicate and exchange data in a structured manner.

An API can be written in any language, including JavaScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Java, C, Objective-C, C++, or .NET. Most APIs are built to comply with industry standards, such as HTTP, XML, and SOAP.

APIs are used to provide developers access to an application's data and features. By using an API, developers can create applications that access data from other applications without having to understand how the other application works. This helps improve speed and reduce time to market for new applications.

Most websites and web services have their own APIs which allow developers to build applications that access the data or features of the website or web service. For example, the Google Maps API allows developers to create applications that use the Google Maps service. Similarly, the Twitter API allows developers to build applications that access the Twitter platform.