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

Examples of application programming interface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To enable seamless data movement across hybrid environments, ensure that your architecture is built on open standards and application programming interfaces (APIs). —Sheila Rohra, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

When doing so, pay particular attention to what software might have interoperability challenges or need an application programming interface. —Tom Dunlop, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

The Bing Search APIs, or application programming interfaces, were once vital to many niche Google alternatives, but fell out of favor more recently as Microsoft hiked fees for the service and restricted its use. —Paresh Dave, Wired News, 14 May 2025

Proper support for third-party passkey providers using an application programming interface will mean that password managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden will be able to allow users to connect directly to the Windows 11 platform. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for application programming interface

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase