Short for application programming interface, API allows two apps to communicate. It lets users embed Google Maps on their websites or make and receive mobile payments.
Detailed Explanation
Many digital apps and software “talk” to one another daily. Your phone’s weather app talks with software from the weather bureau to bring you the daily forecast. A company’s payment portal talks with your bank to approve money transfers when you buy something online. All this talking requires specific mechanisms called APIs.
A great example is a QR code, which scans data stored in the code and translates it into readable information (usually a web page) on your phone.
APIs are crucial for anyone who wants to make money online. You can use APIs to embed your social media activity on your blog or website or facilitate online purchases. And thanks to the software-as-a-service (SaaS) model of APIs today, it’s easy to find a ready-made API that meets your business’s needs.