{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is a REST API?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Representational State Transfer — the most common architecture for web APIs using HTTP methods." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between API and SDK?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An API is the interface; an SDK is a toolkit that wraps the API for easier use in a specific language." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is rate limiting in APIs?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A restriction on how many requests a client can make in a given time period." } } ] }
Definition

What Is an API and How Does It Work?

A set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. In web development, APIs enable front-end interfaces to fetch data from back-end services or third-party platforms.

Related Terms

Integration

Schema Markup

SSL Certificate

Custom Domain

Above the Fold

Example

A fintech dashboard uses a REST API to pull real-time transaction data from a bank's back-end and display it to users.

Synonyms:

Application Programming Interface, Web service

Acronyms:

API