API stands for Application Programming Interface, and it is a software program that allows two apps to communicate with one another. It sends your request to the provider you requested it from, and then it sends you the response. It defines functionalities that are separated from their implementations. By supplying the building blocks, a good API makes it easy to construct a program.
A waiter in a restaurant is the best example of how APIs work. You are a client about to place an order from the menu, and the chef will fulfill your request. You’ll need a link to send your order to the kitchen and for it to be returned to you. This is where the waiter comes into play. Your order is taken by the waiter, who then brings it to the kitchen. He’ll tell the kitchen what to do and then deliver your food as a response to you.
APIs function similarly to a waiter, delivering your request to a specific provider and returning a response to you.