How Your Favorite Apps Talk to Each Other

A REST API is a way for two computers to share information.

It helps different programs talk to each other easily.

REST is a very popular set of rules for the internet.

Imagine you are at a restaurant with a menu.

You are the user and the kitchen is the server.

The waiter is the API because he takes your order.

You tell the waiter what you want to eat.

Then, the waiter brings the food to your table.

In the same way, an API sends your request to a server.

The server sends the data back to your phone or computer.

Most modern apps use this system every single day.

It makes building new websites and apps much faster.

The data is usually sent in a simple text format.

You can find these APIs in weather apps and maps.

Now you understand how the digital world stays connected.