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Application programming interface facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of functions, procedures, methods or classes used by computer programs to request services from the operating system, software libraries or any other service providers running on the computer. A computer programmer uses the API to make application programs.

An API works by communicating with and exchanging data with other systems, acting as a messenger between the user and the system to retrieve the necessary data the user is requesting from the system.

Main types of web APIs:

  • Open APIs - available to the public; they can be accessed by any external users.
  • Partner APIs - available to strategic business partners; they are exposed to a public API developer portal.
  • Internal APIs - available to a company's internal development teams; they are exposed to a private API developer portal.
  • Composite APIs - are a sequence of tasks bundled into a single API call.

Types of API include web services API like the Twitter API, which allows programs to use the API to receive updates on tweets.

Images for kids

  • Database management system diagram from 1978 workshop

    A diagram from 1978 proposing the expansion of the idea of the API to become a general programming interface, beyond application programs alone.

  • Univac 1108 Census Bureau

    Although the people who coined the term API were implementing software on a Univac 1108, the goal of their API was to make hardware independent programs possible.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: API para niños

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