What is an API and how do they work?
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An Application Programming Interface (API) allows a computer program to communicate with another computer program to instruct it to perform certain tasks. Either on a local computer or through a network like the Internet.
If the paint program on your computer wants to print your masterpiece, it will use the printer API of your operating system to instruct it to print that image. If it then wants to share your masterpiece on Facebook, it uses the Facebook API to instruct Facebook to post your masterpiece in your account on your behalf.
An Application Programmable Interface allows another program to access the features and functions of the original program.
For example, when you double click a text file, Windows will ask Notepad to open the text file using Notepad’s ‘Open’ API function.
API stands for Application Programming Interface, which is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. Each time you use an app like Facebook,to send an instant message, or check the weather on your phone, you’re using an API
It’s like going to McDonald’s and ordering for food.
The person who takes my Order is the API. He takes my order and gives me my Big Mac. I never need to talk to the multiple people in the back.
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