What is an API?

API stands for Application Programming Interface.

 

An API can be compared to a restaurant menu. 

Menus contain a list of dishes you can order as well as descriptions of each dish. 

A restaurant’s kitchen prepares your requested menu items and provides them to you. 

Restaurants don’t disclose exactly how their food is prepared, and you don’t have to know.

 

Similarly, APIs include a list of operations that developers can use, along with a description of what they do.