What is an api and what is it for?

Surely on many occasions you have heard of "API" but it will most likely sound like Chinese to you. Developers work a lot with these types of terms, so today we will tell you what an API is and what it is for, so that you have no doubts.

What is an API and what is it for?

API is an abbreviation for “ Application Programming Interfaces ”. So we could define an API as a set of functions or commands that allow developers to create certain programs. APIs also help simplify developers' work, so they don't have to chop all the code from scratch.

For example, you have surely heard of the "Google Maps API". A user who wants to create an Android app will be able to implement their own map or simply enter the Maps API into the code and with a single call to the function, they will have their application working without having to program everything from scratch. It is a way to "reuse" certain modules or interfaces.

Using APIs like Facebook or Twitter is very common

A more common example, there are many apps or services that call certain APIs such as those of Facebook or Twitter, so that the user can share info on these social networks without having to leave the web. It is certainly a way to speed things up.

The API is an interface, and with APIs, we can interact with apps like Facebook quickly and easily and integrate them into our applications.

It is very typical to use APIs to verify certain steps with bank details. But what is clear is that users who use an app, see the handling and all the features they offer and unless they have a lot of knowledge, they will not be able to see what comes from an API or native code that the user has developed. exclusively for your app.

Has it become clearer what an API is and what it is for ?