From the course: No-Code Web Design

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What is an API?

What is an API?

From the course: No-Code Web Design

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What is an API?

- Let's see if there's an API for that. Well, you just integrate the API and what the heck is an API? API stands for application programming interface. It's yet another three letter acronym, or TLA, that we love in technology. And like a lot of TLAs, knowing what API stands for isn't too helpful. Okay, so what is an application programming interface? And what problems does that solve? Basically, an API lets two programs talk to each other. One program is sharing some kind of information in a specific format that another application will use in its functioning. You're already making use of APIs in your daily life and you don't even know it. For example, have you ever bought something online? An API will make sure that your credit card number is valid. No individual store owner's website has a database of those valid numbers. They talk to other software programs which may interface with more programs to determine the…

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