What exactly is an API?

API the most useful and common term in current digital world.But what is it? and what is the use of this ,we will going to discuss about it little to get the solid understanding of this API term.


API = Application Programming Interface


An API is a particular set of rules(“code”) and specifications that software programs can follow to communicate with each other.


It provides interface between different software programs and facilitates their interactions , just  like the way the user interface facilitates interaction between humans and computers.


In simple terms we can say that- “ An API is the interface through which you access someone else’s code or through which someone else access yours code .“

If we go with conceptual part then you can say that API works as Interface between two programs.

Consider the Customer,Waiter and Kitchen in above image-
Where customer getting his order through the Waiter from Kitchen ,


Let me explain this-


Consider if the Customer language and Kitchen language are different then how they will communicate?,then the middle man Waiter come who become interface between these two .


Simply in these from API works(as waiter) between different programs/code or applications.

Lets see a real-world example-

So i think ,you get the basic and conceptual understanding of APIs.
APIs are very useful today provide great help in any development(Web application/Mobile Application/Cloud/Machine Learning).

Some popular APIs services are-


Google APIs, Facebook APIs,Twitter APIs,Steam APIs etc