What is the main role of an Application Programming Interface (API)?

An Application Programming Interface (API) primarily serves to enable communication between software applications. This means that it provides a set of rules and protocols that allow different software programs to interact with each other, facilitating the exchange of data and functionality. By defining the methods and data formats that applications can use to communicate, APIs streamline the process of software integration, allowing developers to leverage existing functionality in other applications, services, or platforms without needing to understand their inner workings.

For example, if a web application wants to display weather information, it can use an API from a weather service to request the necessary data. The API handles the communication, allowing the web application to receive weather updates seamlessly.

While connecting devices over the internet is essential, this task is typically more aligned with protocols and networking standards rather than the primary function of APIs. Similarly, API functions do not include serving as a database management system or directly allocating network resources, as those tasks usually require dedicated database management systems or networking protocols.