Website and technology
API
Abbreviation for Application programming interface
In short and in plain language
An API is a bridge for data.
Programs use it to share data. Then nobody has to type anything in.
One example: an online shop passes orders on to the program that runs the stock.
Definition
An API is a programming interface. Two programs use it to exchange data without anyone having to type anything in. One example is an online shop that passes orders on to an inventory management system.