An application programming interface (API) is a software intermediary that allows two applications to communicate with each other. APIs are a set of tools and protocols that developers use to build user-friendly software apps.
How APIs work
- APIs deliver requests to providers and then deliver responses back to users.
- APIs enable apps, databases, software, and IoT devices to communicate with each other.
- APIs are an accessible way to extract and share data within and across organizations.
Examples of APIs
- A weather app on a phone uses APIs to “talk” to a weather bureau’s software system. The weather app then shows daily weather updates on the phone.
- APIs that comply with the principles of Service Object Access Protocol (SOAP) enable XML messaging between systems through HTTP or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).
APIs are application programming interfaces that allow two systems to communicate with each other.
API is an abbreviation for Application Programming Interface which is a collection of communication protocols and subroutines used by various programs to communicate between them. A programmer can make use of various API tools to make their program easier and simpler. Also, an API facilitates programmers with an efficient way to develop their software programs. Thus in simpler terms, an API helps two programs or applications to communicate with each other by providing them with the necessary tools and functions. It takes the request from the user and sends it to the service provider and then again sends the result generated from the service provider to the desired user.
A developer extensively uses APIs in his software to implement various features by using an API call without writing complex codes for the same. We can create an API for an operating system, database system, hardware system, JavaScript file, or similar object-oriented files. Also, an API is similar to a GUI(Graphical User Interface) with one major difference. Unlike GUIs, an API helps software developers to access web tools while a GUI helps to make a program easier to understand by users.
