Application programming interface

Draft

Introduction

According to Wikipedia (10/2016), “In computer programming, an application programming interface (API) is a set of subroutine definitions, protocols, and tools for building software and applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks, which are then put together by the programmer. An API may be for a web-based system, operating system, database system, computer hardware, or software library. An API specification can take many forms, but often include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, variables, or remote calls.”

List of popular remote (web) APIs

See External examples (Mediawiki.org)

In educational technology

Several major players define both application and remote APIs.

Tincan aka xAPI

• Tincanapi.com (blog and resources)

LTI

• IMS Learning Tools Interoperability

Links

• API (Wikipedia)
• Web API (Wikipedia)
• Overview of RESTful API Description Languages