API - The Engine Behind The Hoods

     What Is An API ???

Connectivity is an  amazing thing. By now we are all use to instant connectivity which puts the worlds in our fingertips in few minutes rather in few seconds from desktops to mobiles or any other portable internet devices. Where we can purchase, post our thoughts, pin our comments and even pick anything from anywhere. So, We are connected to the world like each other like never before.

But does it happens??? How the data gets from here to there ??? How different devices and applications connects with each others???? which allows us to bring the entire world in our pockets in minutes which allows us to place an order, make a reservation for dinner in a restaurant, or even book a flight tickets in few types. The Unseen hero of our Connectivity is:

                  "APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE"

The API. as I mentioned in heads, this is the engine under the hoods. which makes life of ours so simple. This is behind the scene that we take for granted which makes possible for all the interaction on the activities which we are reliable on in our day to day life.

So Exactly,  What is an API??????

If anyone asks this question or sees to books or even google it. the Defination goes likes this

"a set of functions and procedures that allow the creation of applications which access the features or data of an operating system, application, or other service.............blahhh blahhhh bllllllllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh". all this stuffs.. To big words to understand in our small brains. :-)..(Exceptions are always there..).


To speak plainly or simply, API is the messenger that thakes the request from you and tells the system what you want and the returns in the form response back to you.

For Example ,   Thing a waiter in a restaurant is an API. you want to the restaurant and you sit on the table with the menu cards in your hands. Now you can see the kitchen but you are not allowed to enter the kitchen. so here comes the waiter the API over here. the waiter takes the order(request) and takes it to the kitchen and brings the food (repsonse). 

So let bring this API to the real world. When you are booking a flight ticket direct from a flight company website. you just fills ups few fields and it allows you access the flights company database  and returns some information. Now you are booking the same ticket from a different websites like makemytrip.com or goibibo.com etc. you can easily compare the prices. so the website is accessing the database of all the airlines and giving you the results in a split seconds. this is because the website is accessing the API of the respective airlines at same time. 

Now think in this way that all the devices are connected among themselves through API. I hope i am able to make you understand you guys in a simple way!!!!...THANK YOU!!!