API (Application Programming Interface) (API)
A defined set of rules and endpoints that lets one software system request data or actions from another in a predictable way.
What Is an API?
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a contract that lets two software systems talk to each other. It defines the operations one system can request, the shape of the data exchanged, and the rules for authentication and errors — without exposing the internal implementation on either side.
APIs are the connective tissue of modern software: a website calls a payments API to charge a card, a CRM calls a mapping API to validate addresses, and internal services call each other over APIs to keep responsibilities separated. Common styles include REST, GraphQL, and RPC.
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