What is an Application Programming Interface (API)?

Application Programming Interface (API) is a generic term. For example, it may apply to everything from the diagnostic port under your car’s dashboard, to the physical switch on your blender that controls the rotational speed of the blade. Nothing about the term “API” need necessarily involve HTTP or databases. Therefore, if you ever get into a conference call regarding APIs, and don’t want to seem like a noob, valid questions include:

The proposed API will be implement what programming language and framework? Frameworks are libraries that abstract away some of the complexity behind accepting […]