What is API?

[OyaYansa]

Each time we have more present the acronyms API in the world of the technology But, you know what they are or what they consist?

API stands for Application Programming Interface, in Spanish. Specifically, it is a formal specification on how one module in one software communicates or interacts with another.

In other words, APIs are a set of functions and computer protocols that allow developers to create specific programs for operating systems, databases or communications protocols.

In addition, in recent years, have joined several social networks, such as Twitter or Facebook, as well as other online platforms such as Google Maps or Wordpress. Thus, social media marketing has become something more trackable and therefore more profitable.

In fact, APIs are valuable especially since they allow to make use of different functions already existing in other software. Thus, you gain in productivity.

APIs fulfill their purpose as a template on which to develop software that is fully compatible with a service, system or application.

But, what examples can we find of API today? For example, it can be very useful for developers of a program for Windows that connects to the Internet, since they do not need to include in their code the functions necessary to recognize the network card. Thus, a call to the corresponding API of the operating system would suffice.

But we can also find more practical examples in our day to day. So, when we buy a movie tickets online with our credit card, most likely that website uses an API to send that information remotely to another program that checks that the data is correct.

So, even though you see a simple check, there are many APIs that are working behind to make everything go well.