Overview

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It acts as an intermediary, allowing one application to request data or services from another.

Types of APIs

  • REST: Uses HTTP methods (GET, POST) and is widely used for web services.
  • GraphQL: Allows clients to request exactly the data they need.
  • gRPC: High-performance RPC framework used for microservices.

Real-world Example

When you use a weather app on your phone, it uses an API to fetch the latest weather data from a remote server.

Related Terms