It’s been a while since we talked much about APIs in this space, so it’s probably time we revisited the topic. APIs (short for application programming interfaces) are becoming more important in software development all the time, so it’s a good idea for both techies and their customers to have a little refresher on what APIs are, how they work, and why they’re so important these days.

At some point in the recent past, you may have heard someone mention the term “API.” You probably recalled hearing this term before, and had some idea of what it meant. Perhaps you nodded knowingly, making a mental note to look it up when you got back to your desk. Maybe you followed up on it, or maybe you were distracted by the coffee brewing in the break room. It happens.