Understanding APIs: A Simple Guide for Beginners - Community Edition
API stands for Application Programming Interface. In simple terms, an API is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. It defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information.
Google Search is a popular example of an API that allows users to search for information on the internet. When you type a query into the Google search bar and hit enter, your request is sent to Google's servers via their API. The API then processes your request, searches through its database of webpages, and returns relevant results back to you.
APIs are essential for modern web development as they enable developers to integrate different services and functionalities into their own applications without having to build everything from scratch. They provide a way for applications to interact with each other and access external resources securely.
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