application programming interface
noun
variants
or less commonly application program interface
computing
: a set of rules that allows programmers to develop software for a particular operating system without having to be completely familiar with that operating system
To fix this problem, trustbusters have installed a provision forcing Microsoft to disclose more information about its so-called application programming interfaces, or APIs.—
Business Week
—abbreviation API
Business Week
Examples of application programming interface in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Apple has also begun offering an application programming interface (API) for its Communication Safety features so third-party developers can incorporate them into their apps.
—Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023
The company started charging for access to its application programming interface (API), which forced several official accounts that automatically shared up-to-date information on weather or natural disasters to suspend operations.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2023
The technology used in the device includes optical character recognition, machine learning, and Google application programming interfaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2023
Organizers of the protest say Reddit’s new policy threatens to end key ways of historically customizing the platform using an API, or application programming interface, which allows computer programs to communicate with each another.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 17 June 2023
Reddit recently increased fees for third-party developers to access its API, or application programming interface.
—Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
TikTok has expanded its already-available-in-the-U.S. Research application programming interface (API) to Europe, to comply in advance with the EU’s new Digital Services Act, which imposes a tough set of rules on major online content services.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 20 July 2023
The problems at Reddit are complex, but, in brief, the company decided to charge users for access to its application programming interface (API), which had been free since 2008.
—Katherine Alejandra Cross, WIRED, 20 July 2023
The Reddit blackout continues More than 6,000 Reddit forums went dark on Monday in what was supposed to be a two-day protest over the company’s plan to charge some developers millions of dollars for third-party apps tapping into its application programming interface (API).
—Brian Fung, CNN, 16 June 2023
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Lily Hay Newman, WIRED, 31 Aug. 2023
The company started charging for access to its application programming interface (API), which forced several official accounts that automatically shared up-to-date information on weather or natural disasters to suspend operations.
—Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2023
The technology used in the device includes optical character recognition, machine learning, and Google application programming interfaces.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2023
Organizers of the protest say Reddit’s new policy threatens to end key ways of historically customizing the platform using an API, or application programming interface, which allows computer programs to communicate with each another.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 17 June 2023
Reddit recently increased fees for third-party developers to access its API, or application programming interface.
—Helen Li, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2023
TikTok has expanded its already-available-in-the-U.S. Research application programming interface (API) to Europe, to comply in advance with the EU’s new Digital Services Act, which imposes a tough set of rules on major online content services.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 20 July 2023
The problems at Reddit are complex, but, in brief, the company decided to charge users for access to its application programming interface (API), which had been free since 2008.
—Katherine Alejandra Cross, WIRED, 20 July 2023
The Reddit blackout continues More than 6,000 Reddit forums went dark on Monday in what was supposed to be a two-day protest over the company’s plan to charge some developers millions of dollars for third-party apps tapping into its application programming interface (API).
—Brian Fung, CNN, 16 June 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'application programming interface.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1968, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of application programming interface was
in 1968
Dictionary Entries Near application programming interface
Cite this Entry
“Application programming interface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/application%20programming%20interface. Accessed 29 Sep. 2023.
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