API (Application Program Interface)

An API (Application Program Interface) is a public facing function of an application. It typically performs a single action, and allows internal or external applications to access the information of the hosting system.

For example, an API of the weather network allows applications to request weather details for specific cities. To do so, applications POST a request: {city: Toronto} to the location of the API and in return they are sent the details {today: sunny}.

 

RESOURCES:

RELATED TERMS: