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9.1 - Introduction to APIs

9.1.1 - What is an API?​

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules that allows different software entities to communicate with each other. It defines the methods and data formats that developers should use to interact with the API, whether it's a web-based service, operating system, or database system. APIs are crucial for building software applications as they dictate how different software components should interact.

9.1.2 - Importance of APIs in Software Development​

APIs play a vital role in modern software development by enabling new features to be integrated seamlessly, often without the need for a complete overhaul of the application. They allow for easier collaboration, more modularity, and greater scalability for software projects, thereby enhancing both developer productivity and application functionality.

9.1.3 - Overview of RESTful APIs​

RESTful APIs are one type of API that use HTTP requests to GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE data. They are called "RESTful" because they adhere to the constraints of REST (Representational State Transfer), which is a style of architecture that simplifies network communication on the web.

9.1.4 - Role in Web Communication​

RESTful APIs are commonly used to serve data to and from web applications and are considered standard practice for exposing data and functionality of a backend system to client applications through a web interface. This allows users to interact with cloud services, request data from servers, and perform other network operations without needing to handle the server-side mechanics.