What does the acronym API stand for?

The acronym API stands for Application Programming Interface. This term refers to a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. An API defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information, enabling developers to access functionalities of other applications or services without needing to know the internal workings of those systems.

This concept is fundamental in modern software development, as it allows for the integration of different services and simplifies the process of building complex applications by allowing developers to leverage existing services. For instance, when integrating a payment gateway into an e-commerce site or pulling data from a social media platform, APIs facilitate these interactions seamlessly.