What is an API? — ¿Qué es una API?

Francisco Martínez
2 min readMar 19, 2024

What is an API?

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An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of rules and protocols that allows different applications to communicate with each other. Essentially, it provides a standardized way for two software programs to interact, enabling data exchange and execution of operations.

APIs can be used in various ways. For example:

Access to Functionality: APIs can provide access to specific functions of an application or service. For instance, an API of a cloud storage service might allow an application to upload, download, and delete files stored in the cloud.

Integration: APIs facilitate integration between different computer systems. For instance, an API might allow a sales management system to communicate with an inventory management system to keep stock records

Application Development: Developers use APIs to create applications that utilize services from another provider. For example, a weather mobile application might use the API of a weather service to obtain updated forecast data.

Automation: APIs can be used for process automation. For instance, a company might use an API to automate the generation of financial reports that gather data from multiple internal systems.

In summary, an API acts as an intermediary that allows different applications and systems to communicate with each other consistently and securely. This makes APIs…

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