What is an API?
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. Web APIs enable your website to send and receive data from external services like payment processors, email providers, and databases.
How Does API Work?
REST APIs are the most common type in web development, using HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) to perform operations on resources. When your website processes a payment through Stripe or displays a map from Google Maps, it communicates through their APIs. APIs typically exchange data in JSON format.
In hosting, API access is important for automation — many hosting providers offer APIs to manage domains, deploy code, and configure services programmatically. Serverless platforms are essentially APIs themselves, running your code in response to HTTP requests. Understanding APIs is essential for integrating third-party services into your website.