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kabir k
Courses Plus Student 18,036 PointsThird-party web service
In the video, What is an API?, they said....."An application programming interface provides the method for connecting your site to a third-party web service like YouTube, Dropbox, or Flickr."
In this context, what do they mean by a third-party web service?
1 Answer
moonshine
8,449 PointsA statement from Stack Exchange:
An API is an interface for other programs to interact with your program without having direct access.
YouTube's servers run software. Your app can interact with YouTube's software. YouTube's API controls how your app interacts with their software, and, for example, it can limit usage and visibility over data. YouTube is a third party. You don't own YouTube.
Windows and Linux have APIs. If you wanted to write an app that plays sound through your computer's speakers, you can do it through the operating system's API. Your app won't have access to the entire OS's internals (for security reasons), but it will have some access.
An API is separate from your app, but your app can still use it.
kabir k
Courses Plus Student 18,036 Pointskabir k
Courses Plus Student 18,036 PointsThat helps, thanks!
moonshine
8,449 Pointsmoonshine
8,449 PointsGood! For a second I felt like my answer was too confusing.