How I understood APIs is that it basically allows munication between 2 applications.

So the client asks for a resource, the request reaches the API, if the asked resource (or end point) exists, the request is delegated to the server, the information is fetched from the database and a response it sent to the user.

So the API is between the client and the server.

If the above is true, what is an API server?

Maybe its a stupid question, but I am just confused.

How I understood APIs is that it basically allows munication between 2 applications.

So the client asks for a resource, the request reaches the API, if the asked resource (or end point) exists, the request is delegated to the server, the information is fetched from the database and a response it sent to the user.

So the API is between the client and the server.

If the above is true, what is an API server?

Maybe its a stupid question, but I am just confused.

• javascript
• server

Share Improve this question Follow asked Dec 25, 2020 at 10:37 Just.a.techJust.a.tech 4111 gold badge11 silver badge55 bronze badges 1

• API is more like the protocol itself – cagri Commented Dec 25, 2020 at 10:38

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2 Answers 2

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Well, in short, API stands for Application Programming Interface, it is where you municate with a "service provider", it can be a server, an application that's locally saved in your system, even a physical device.

API server in the broad web context generally means a server that performs certain actions on request, and those requests are received by API.

An API is hosted on an API server. The server itself is generally a puter on the cloud that runs the code that powers the API. So when you say "the request reaches the API" you are also implicitly saying "the client contacts the API server"