What is a web API?

What is a web API?

• A. An API that runs only on local machines.
• B. An API over the web that lets programs interact with a service, often using HTTP requests and JSON data.
• C. A security protocol that encrypts all emails.
• D. A database management system.

Answer: (B)

A web API is a way for programs to talk to a web service over the internet. It defines how to request data or perform actions using standard web methods, usually through HTTP, and it commonly returns data in a format like JSON. Think of it as an interface that lets one program ask another service for something, or ask it to do something, and then receive a structured response you can use in your app. For example, you might send a GET request to a weather service’s web API to fetch the latest forecast, and the service responds with JSON data you can display. This approach works across different systems and languages, and it’s not limited to local machines, not a security protocol for emails, and not a database management system.

A web API is a way for programs to talk to a web service over the internet. It defines how to request data or perform actions using standard web methods, usually through HTTP, and it commonly returns data in a format like JSON. Think of it as an interface that lets one program ask another service for something, or ask it to do something, and then receive a structured response you can use in your app. For example, you might send a GET request to a weather service’s web API to fetch the latest forecast, and the service responds with JSON data you can display. This approach works across different systems and languages, and it’s not limited to local machines, not a security protocol for emails, and not a database management system.