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API

0 antonyms and opposites of API, grouped by meaning.

Noun — An agreed set of rules that lets one piece of software ask another for information or actions — what you can request, how to phrase the request, and what you will get back.

How to Use Api

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

public API REST API API key call an API API endpoint rate-limited API

Take the article that matches the spoken form: "an API", because it is said "ay-pee-eye". Almost never spelled out in full outside documentation.

Etymology

An initialism of application programming interface.

Full origin of API →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an API and a website?

A website returns pages designed for a person to look at; an API returns data designed for another program to process, usually in a format such as JSON. The same company often runs both against the same underlying information.

What is an API key?

An API key is a string of characters identifying who is making a request, so the provider can recognise the caller, apply limits and, where relevant, bill for use. It is a credential, so it is treated like a password rather than shared publicly.

What is the difference between an API and an SDK?

An API is the set of rules for making requests. An SDK, or software development kit, is a bundle of ready-made code and tools in a particular programming language that makes those requests for you. You can use an API without an SDK, but not the other way round.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.