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Discussion on: What is really an API? Examples, Code + History

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ravavyr profile image
Ravavyr

All of this is a very nice long write up about APIs and various ways these are implemented.

I would like to state though that an API is really just this:

  • the client [a computer, any device that will send a request]
  • an endpoint [any url that accepts requests and processes them and returns them]

What the client is [pc,laptop,mobile, another server] doesn't matter.
What the endpoint is [server file, custom subdomain, root domain, lambda function] doesn't matter.
As long as the information requested is received by the client.

We've called these SOAP requests, endpoints, APIs, Rest APIs, Json endpoints, XML endpoints, etc etc etc.
In the end, it's a request and a response, that's it.
KISS method applies and helps newbies understand it faster.

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samuelkufre profile image
Samuel Kufre Willie

You correct as well... 💪💪💪