API 101
Application program interface (API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. An API specifies how software components should interact and APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI) components. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks. A programmer then puts the blocks together" (webopedia, 2016).
Application Programming Interfaces allows applications to talk to other applications. For example:
- Mobile devices all use APIs to connect our mobile app to Facebook.
- YouTube users consume videos using the universal embeddable video player (like Vimeo) allowing Youtube videos to be embedded on any website around the web, all driven by APIs.
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