What is an API?

An API, or “Application Program Interface”, is a set of routines and protocols that provide building blocks for computer programmers and web developers to build software applications. In the past, APIs were largely associated with computer operating systems and desktop applications. In recent years though, we have seen the emergence of Web APIs (Web Services).

Web API (Web Service)

Web APIs allow developers to build web pages and web based applications (known as “mashups”) using data from multiple online sources. Although there are Web APIs available for many different types of industries, some of the most popular and widely used ones are in the categories of social networking, mapping, shopping and music.

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