Development
What is API?
Application Programming Interface — a set of rules allowing software applications to communicate.
An API (Application Programming Interface) defines how software components interact. It specifies the requests that can be made, how to make them, the data formats to use, and what to expect in response.
Web APIs (typically REST or GraphQL over HTTP) allow different systems to communicate across networks. When you use a weather app, it calls a weather API to fetch data. When you pay online, a payment API handles the transaction.
Types of APIs
- REST: Uses HTTP methods, stateless, returns JSON/XML
- GraphQL: Query language for precise data fetching
- WebSocket: Persistent connection for real-time data
- gRPC: High-performance binary protocol for microservices
FAQ
What is an API key?
An API key is a unique identifier used to authenticate requests from a specific application or user. Generate secure API keys with our API Key Generator.