API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a set of rules that allows software applications to communicate with each other:
- How it works
APIs act as an intermediary between applications, defining how they communicate with each other using requests and responses. - Benefits
APIs simplify and speed up software development by allowing developers to integrate data, services, and capabilities from other applications. - Examples
You use APIs when you:- Use a rideshare app
- Send a mobile payment
- Change your thermostat temperature from your phone
- Use an online booking service like Skyscanner
- Use the Google Maps Geolocation API to plot your location on a map