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What is API?

In general way, API (Application Programming Interface) is the intermediate software which is useful for two applications to communicate. API is the tool which is used for interaction of two applications. If developer developing any software which have multiple blocks (Modules) than developer use APIs to put them together.
In Computer Programming Language, APIs is the set of Routines, Protocols and tools for develop Software. An API  may be use for Web Based System, Operating System, Database System, Computer Hardware and Software Library. GUI (Graphical User Interface) is useful to used APIs to develop the Software.

There are some APIs which are popular in market
  • Google Map API is useful for the for embed google map in web pages. It works on both desktop and mobile devices.
  • YouTube API can be use to integrate YouTube Video in Web Page. YouTube API include the YouTube Analytics API, YouTube Data API, YouTube Live Streaming API, YouTube Players API.
  • Flickr API is useful to get the flickr photo sharing community data. 
  • Twitter API offer API, one is REST API to access the Twitter core data and the Search API to interest with Twitter Search and trends data.
Now you can understand by above example that large companies make their own APIs to provide the data of that product for the customers or for the internal use.

API also provide some layer of security. When any user request for API data from any website than server is not fully exposed to the request, only communication occur only in small blocks and share only which data which is useful.

Let me provide you one real time example that you use generally.
User can book the flight on any flight booking website. In this user fill the Source city, Destination city, Date and the Number of passenger and send the request to the server. Server respond back and provide flights detail and user can book flight.
Now Suppose same client using MakeMyTrip or Goibibo to book flight. Here user fill same detail like above and send request. Now this user request send to the Flight booking server( which MMT or Goibibo used as API) and respond same data as above.





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