Definition: A set of rules and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other. APIs are often used to make an application's features available to other developers without them having to know the internal workings of the application.
Key Features:
Interface: Facilitates communication between different software components.
Modularity: Extends the functionality of programs by allowing them to access services and resources from third parties.
Efficiency: Reduces development time as pre-built functions can be utilized.
Common Applications:
Web services: For example, fetching data from a server.
Platform integration: Allows applications to utilize services like payment gateways or social media.
Software development: Connecting software libraries and frameworks.