MediumSystem designTechnical

What is an API and how does it work?

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An API (Application Programming Interface) acts as a contract or a set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. It defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information.

Think of it like a waiter in a restaurant. You (one application) tell the waiter (the API) what you want from the menu (the available functions/data). The waiter then takes your order to the kitchen (another application or system), which prepares your food. The waiter then brings the food back to you. The API handles the request and response process, abstracting away the complexity of how the 'kitchen' works.

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