Web Development
What is an API?
Quick answer
An API is a defined way for two pieces of software to talk to each other. It lets one application request data or actions from another, like a website fetching live prices, or an app sending a payment to a gateway, without needing to know how the other system works internally.
Think of an API as a contract: it specifies what you can ask for and what you will get back. Most modern products are built by connecting APIs, since maps, payments, email, authentication, and AI models are all accessed this way instead of being rebuilt from scratch.
For businesses, APIs mean faster builds, reliable integrations, and the ability to reuse the same data across a website, a mobile app, and third-party tools. A well-designed API is also what lets your own systems connect cleanly as you grow.
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