API

API, or Application Programming Interface, is a crucial component in the digital ecosystem, acting as a mediator that allows different software applications to interact seamlessly. An API defines a set of rules and protocols that software developers use to communicate with each other or with an application's components.

Essentially, it specifies the methods and data formats that developers should use when requesting services from an application or when an application needs to respond to requests.

This interface between different software programs enables them to utilize functionalities or data without needing to share the entire codebase, thus facilitating efficient integration and functionality expansion.