An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules, protocols, and tools for building software and applications. APIs specify how different software components should interact with each other, allowing developers to use pre-built blocks of code to create applications.
In simple terms, an API acts as an intermediary between different programs, enabling them to communicate with each other. For example, when you use an app on your phone to check the weather, that app communicates with the API of a weather service, sends a request for weather data, and then displays that information in a user-friendly way.
APIs are widely used in web development to integrate various services and functionalities into websites and applications. They help developers save time and effort by providing ready-made tools and standardized methods for software components to interact with each other.