application programming interface
nounUK /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən ˈprəʊɡræmɪŋ ˈɪntəfeɪs/
US /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən ˈproʊɡræmɪŋ ˈɪntərfeɪs/
A set of rules that lets one computer program talk to another program.
The weather app uses an application programming interface to get today's forecast from a server.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The documented set of functions and rules a programmer uses to build software on top of an existing system.
She read the application programming interface docs before writing any code.
3. A boundary that lets separate software components exchange data without knowing each other's inner workings.
The payment service hides its complexity behind a simple application programming interface.
4. A contract that defines how requests and responses between programs must be formatted.
The team versioned their application programming interface so old clients kept working.