What is an API? How does it work?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a software interface that enables two applications to communicate and exchange data with each other. It is a set of functions that can be executed by another software program.

Let us now understand how an API works. When you use an application on your smartphone, the application connects to the Internet. It sends data to a server. The server will retrieve that data, interpret it, and perform the required actions. Then it sends it back to your phone. The application interprets that data and provides you with the information in a readable way without exposing the internal details.