noun

API

a defined way for programs to communicate with each other

In more detail

1. (noun) a set of tools and rules that allows different software programs to communicate and share information with each other

2. (noun) a website or service that provides data or functions that other programs can use

Examples

1. The Twitter API allows developers to build applications that can post tweets automatically.
2. The weather API provides real-time temperature data to many weather apps.

How to use API

API is a technical term widely used in software development and IT contexts to describe how different applications interact. It can refer to both the abstract specification (the rules and tools) and the concrete implementation (a web service offering specific functionality). The term appears frequently in both formal technical documentation and casual developer conversations.

Common phrases

API endpoint
API call
API key
REST API
API documentation
build an API

Synonyms

interface · protocol · web service · integration layer · gateway

Word family

APIs (plural)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'API' as a verb (e.g., 'to API a service') when the correct construction is 'to use an API' or 'to call an API'.

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API