API (Application Programming Interface)

An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. Think of it as a menu in a restaurant – it lists the dishes you can order and provides a way for you to request them. Similarly, an API defines the methods and data formats that developers use to interact with a service or application, making it easier to integrate features, share data, or extend functionality without needing to understand the underlying code. This encourages innovation and efficiency in software development.