Ans: API is the abbreviation for Application Programming Interface. It specifies how two modules of software communicate with one another. There are various types of APIs, but the swagger is focused on the Web API.
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An application program interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and
tools for building software applications.
Basically, an API specifies how software components should interact.
Additionally, APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI)
components.
A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the
building blocks. A programmer then puts the blocks together.
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An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of commands,
functions, protocols, and objects that programmers can use to
create software or interact with an external system.
Think of API as an interface for programs. A UI (User Interface) is an interface
for the user.
- Examples of API: library API (jQuery, Express, JavaScript), or Data request
API like Weather condition API and current time API.
- To make an API request you need to use an HTTP/HTTPS request to external
servers
Say you were going to a restaurant,
we know that there are things that are
on the menu like cakes and desert while
there are raw ingredients in the Kitchen.
The restaurant would not let you go into
the Kitchen to eat ingredients since the
restaurant has certain things that they sell
and let you buy and there are other things that
are off limits, which is similar to data.
Facebook has data on users while the police API
has data on crimes. They all have certain data that
they allow you to access and some data that are not your business.
At a restaurant, you are provided with a menu (API) that
allows to you to choose what you want and what they provide.
For a weather API, they include the temperature,
weather condition, weather image, and pressure
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API is the acronym 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, send an instant message, or check the weather on your
phone, you're using an API.
An application programming interface is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build or use such a connection or interface is called an API specification.