glossary
What is an API (application programming interface)?
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Use the 3-question Fit CheckAn API (application programming interface) is a defined access point or set of functions, with a well-defined syntax, that lets one program request functionality or data from another in a predictable way.
What it means
NIST describes an API as a system access point or library function, accessible from application code, that provides well-defined functionality. In plain terms, an API is a contract that lets software talk to other software. APIs underpin cloud automation, integrations, and network-programmability work (for example in DevOps and CCNA Automation topics).
Core source records
This table lists the page’s core content records and when they were checked. Claim-specific citations appear beside the relevant text and may not be repeated here.
| ID | Supports | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIT-01 | Definition source for What is an API (application programming interface)? | National Institute of Standards and Technology — NIST CSRC Glossary | 2026-06-15 |
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