PLEASE guys what is API
.
.
..// Pardon my ignorance
please i do cone across this term API , what is it .. please explain like as if you are explaining to a learner..
STating examples to JAVA and PHP...
THANKS in advance

Application Programming Interface

Mckayce:
PLEASE guys what is API
.
.
..// Pardon my ignorance
please i do cone across this term API , what is it .. please explain like as if you are explaining to a learner..
STating examples to JAVA and PHP...
THANKS in advance

I don't really know java or anything abt php, I am a Python guy.
API is like an intermediary that links two softwares.
Just like your Samsung phone getting info from a GPS company, through the GPS app.
Or u reaching out to nairaland through Google.
I hope that's simple enough.

Mckayce:
PLEASE guys what is API
.
.
..// Pardon my ignorance
please i do cone across this term API , what is it .. please explain like as if you are explaining to a learner..
STating examples to JAVA and PHP...
THANKS in advance

API (application programming interface) is a means by which programs (software) communicate (and exchange data between one another).
Look at php a d MySQL for example,
Php provides you with an interface to connect to the MySQL database server by using the

mysqli_connect

(and it's related functions).

You making use of that function, you don't have to worry yourself about how the actual connection process is implemented, all you just have to do is call the available interface, and boom, you are in.

Imagine again, you are creating a website that shows current weather, you don't have to worry yourself about how to get weather information and etc, all you just have to do is - look for another platform that specifically offers this information, check out their API (if they have one), call the API, and kapish!!! You have the weather information to display on your site.

Like that like that like that...

Api= application programming interface.
Forget that big name, it is just a way for computers to interact with computers . that is program A can interact with program B.
Interaction between humans and computer is so easy due to our visual ability . you can click on any link and get what u want. Turns out that such activity is not easy between computers . how do u make program A interact with program D. For a vivid example how does that app that claims to show ur mafia family know who r ur friends on Facebook . the answer is through fb api.
Api appear in Two forms. XML and JSON. Most api r of Jason type . e.g
{"Name": " user 1",
"Age": 30}
That is how a json api looks like.
Have u ever seen google map on a site not owned by google?. Chances are u have. It was possible due to the site interacting with google map api. Hope u dig

Thanks guys.... ALL WELL... but hw do i generate an API for a particular web

Mckayce:
Thanks guys.... ALL WELL... but hw do i generate an API for a particular web

thier is a concept called restful api. where you design a web app to be api like. most single page apps are api like. google is your friend