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What is an API?

Introduction You must have heard somewhere about API, but what is API? Have you ever wondered? You are not alone if you have never paused to think what an API is. Today, we are going to break down the concept: "What is an API?" So let's jump in. What is an API? Let us understand this with the help of a tasty example. Story of a hard day you had. It had been a hard day doing work. You were tired and hungry, so, naturally, you headed to the best restaurant in the city. When you sat down, the waiter came and asked. How may I help you, Sir? Without hesitation, you reply with one of your favourite dishes, which you can never deny. The Waiter took your order very quickly and headed straight to the kitchen, He asked the cook, "Sir, is this dish available?" and the cook said. That dish isn’t available right now. The Waiter, with a sad look, went back to your table and repeated what the cook said, but you took this as an opportunity to try something new, so you ordered some Japanese sushi, which you had never tried. The waiter took the order and went back to the kitchen. This time, luckily, it was available, so you ate sushi that night, although you didn't liked it that much. Now Let's Connect the Dots. Just like the waiter acted as a messenger between you and the cook. Application Programming Interface (API) acts as a messenger between the Application and the Server. A Customer(Application) never talks to the Cook(Server) directly, instead, you make requests through the Waiter(API). The Waiter(API) then brings back the result, either good or bad. Understanding API Application Programming Interface (API) allows communication between 2 different software without the disclosure of important data. You can also say that an API connects 2 software entities. API is usually not visible to the user. It's an under-the-code portion of the system. Where else have you seen an API? Remember ordering something new online and checking the location of the delivery man through the map provided by the Application. Now it's not like that the application has first made a satellite, then sent it to space, then took data from there and then implemented to a application. Instead, these applications use those models that have already sent there satellites into the space and are able to track accurate location. For example, Google. As you know, Google owns Google Maps, which is one of the most accurate web mapping platform out there. Due to high accuracy and more reliability, Google Maps offers other applications to add Google Maps in some way to their application. But don't you think if Google started to let people embed Google Maps into their applications, then there would be privacy and security issues? That's why doing this directly is very risky, that's where API comes into play it act as a middle man between the Main System(Google Maps) and the Application(The Delivery Application). The application first has to request the API, then the API sends the request to the main system. The main system either denies, which leads to an error on our screen, or accepts the request, which makes the map and the delivery guys' current location appear on our screen. More Places where you see API are While signing up for any website. While doing Payment. And many more... Outro Now you know what is an API. Where else have you seen API? But now more question arises: What is an API Key? Is API and UI the same? How do I implement the API into my project And that's what makes us humans the curious cat, but all the rest questions are talk of a different blog. Till Then Stay Curious and Stay Selfish Social Links

May 11, 2025 - 09:28

Introduction

You must have heard somewhere about API, but what is API? Have you ever wondered?

You are not alone if you have never paused to think what an API is.

Today, we are going to break down the concept: "What is an API?"

So let's jump in.

What is an API?

Let us understand this with the help of a tasty example.

Story of a hard day you had.

It had been a hard day doing work. You were tired and hungry, so, naturally, you headed to the best restaurant in the city. When you sat down, the waiter came and asked.

How may I help you, Sir?

Without hesitation, you reply with one of your favourite dishes, which you can never deny.

The Waiter took your order very quickly and headed straight to the kitchen, He asked the cook, "Sir, is this dish available?" and the cook said.

That dish isn’t available right now.

The Waiter, with a sad look, went back to your table and repeated what the cook said, but you took this as an opportunity to try something new, so you ordered some Japanese sushi, which you had never tried. The waiter took the order and went back to the kitchen.

This time, luckily, it was available, so you ate sushi that night, although you didn't liked it that much.

Now Let's Connect the Dots.

Just like the waiter acted as a messenger between you and the cook.
Application Programming Interface (API) acts as a messenger between the Application **and the **Server.

A Customer(Application) never talks to the Cook(Server) directly, instead, you make requests through the Waiter(API).

The Waiter(API) then brings back the result, either good or bad.

Understanding API

Application Programming Interface (API) allows communication between 2 different software without the disclosure of important data.

You can also say that an API connects 2 software entities.

API is usually not visible to the user. It's an under-the-code portion of the system.

Where else have you seen an API?

Remember ordering something new online and checking the location of the delivery man through the map provided by the Application.

Now it's not like that the application has first made a satellite, then sent it to space, then took data from there and then implemented to a application.

Instead, these applications use those models that have already sent there satellites into the space and are able to track accurate location. For example, Google.

As you know, Google owns Google Maps, which is one of the most accurate web mapping platform out there.

Due to high accuracy and more reliability, Google Maps offers other applications to add Google Maps in some way to their application.

But don't you think if Google started to let people embed Google Maps into their applications, then there would be privacy and security issues?

That's why doing this directly is very risky, that's where API comes into play it act as a middle man between the Main System(Google Maps) and the Application(The Delivery Application).

The application first has to request the API, then the API sends the request to the main system. The main system either denies, which leads to an error on our screen, or accepts the request, which makes the map and the delivery guys' current location appear on our screen.

More Places where you see API are