what is api?

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software interface that offers a service to other pieces of software. APIs are mechanisms that enable two software components to communicate with each other using a set of definitions and protocols. APIs are used to integrate new applications with existing software systems, which increases development speed because each functionality doesn’t have to be written from scratch. APIs can be thought of as a contract of service between two applications, defining how the two communicate with each other using requests and responses. APIs have been around almost as long as computing, but modern web APIs began taking shape in the early 2000s. Today, APIs have become so valuable that they comprise a large part of the technology space.