Definition
Application Programming Interface: a set of protocols, routines, and tools for building software applications that specifies how software components should interact with each other.

Types of APIs

  • REST API: Uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform CRUD operations.
  • GraphQL: A query language that lets clients request exactly the data they need.
  • gRPC: A high-performance RPC framework using Protocol Buffers.
  • WebSocket API: Enables real-time bidirectional communication.

Defined Term