Programming Interfaces (APIs)

A Programming Interface, or API, 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 what you can order and how to order it, without needing to know how the food is made. Similarly, APIs define how one program can request information or services from another, enabling things like social media sharing on websites or weather data on apps. They help different systems work together smoothly, making it easier for developers to create complex functionalities without starting from scratch.