What is an API?
Stands for Application Programming Interface.
Definition
An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other.
Purpose
APIs act as a bridge between applications, enabling data and functionality exchange, and are essential for modern software and web applications.
Function
APIs function by defining how software modules interact: one application makes a request, and another provides a response, all following the rules set by the API.
Contract
To ensure consistency and security in communication, a services contract is defined between applications, outlining how requests and responses should be structured.
Web Services
All web services are APIs, but not all APIs are web services, as APIs can also be used for communication between local applications.