Maybe this should help: http://www.google.com/apis/ If you are referring to google maps api then: Google Maps API The Google Maps API was created by Google to facilitate developers integrating Google Maps into their web sites, with their own data points. It is a free service, that currently does not contain ads, but Google states in their terms of use that they reserve the right to display ads in the future. By using the Google Maps API you can embed the full Google Maps on an external web site (minus driving directions and KML). Start by creating an API Key, it will be bound to the web site and directory you enter when creating the key. Creating your own map interface involves adding the Google JavaScript code to your page, and then using Javascript functions to add points to the map. When the API first launched it lacked the ability to geocode addresses, requiring you to manually add points in (latitude, longitude) format. This has since been rectified. At the same time as the release of the Google Maps API, Yahoo! released their own Maps API . Both were released to coincide with the O'Reilly Where 2.0 Conference. Yahoo! Maps lacks international support and aerial photos, but included a geocoder in the first release. See this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Maps_API Hope this is helpfull truly Aditya
I think the short definition is that the APIs enable you to script around Google functionality - so you can do things like have Google features on your site. SOme clever CMS system provide this integration for you - I use one at work called Jadu CMS - this uses the Google APIs to auto submit product information to Froogle - and generate location maps, Google site maps etc. Its clever stuff - but if your CMS dosent do it for you, then APIs are really only for programmers :/
API = Application Programming Interface A way that programmers can use Google features in their own programs.
Do you know of any other CMS or CMF that use more than one given set of API's, i.e. Google, Windows Live, ALexa, and then marketing channels such as eBay, Amazon etc? I also noticed that 'Jadu CMS' make a claim that they have designed using WAI standards; specifically following The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 (United Kingdom). There are numerous Acts related to disability, such as Americans With Disabilities Act and The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992 (Australia). Anyone know of 'other' CMS (content management system i.e. SPIP) or CMF (content management framework - i.e. Zope) that meet complaine to 'WAI' or specific DDA. Reegards
I got it now, ok are there any program online that one can be used if you have a API key. thanks Michelle
I thing it is channel/door for use features/data from these site. You don't need to know How's it work? You just to know. What do you want to do? and How to send request for them?