API stands for Application Programming Interface — it’s a set of rules, protocols, and tools that allows different software systems to communicate with each other.

APIs let developers integrate features or data from other services without knowing their internal implementation.

🚦 Key Points

✅ Application → any software (web, mobile, server)

✅ Programming → made for developers

✅ Interface → defines how apps talk to each other

🔎 Why APIs Matter

🗂️ Types of APIs

🌐 Web API Types in Detail

🚧 Key Components of an API

🔐 API Security Basics

💡 Examples of Popular APIs

🛠️ Building Your Own API

• Use frameworks like Express (Node.js), Django REST (Python), Spring Boot (Java).
• Define clear endpoints and consistent request/response formats.
• Document your API (e.g., Swagger/OpenAPI).
• Write tests for reliability.