An API stands for Application Program Interface. Simply put in lay man's term it is an interface which actually helps programs to communicate with each other. I'm sure you will find tons of info on the search engine by typing in API. I hope I have been useful here. Cheers.
hehe.. yea, its quite useful.. I was wondering what is API too since I'm totally new to this business.. thanks buddy
Basically a way for a programmer to tap into someone elses technology to create tools for it. e.g. google map api lets you create your own maps, let users mark maps, create guides etc. flicker api lets you incorporate flicker widgets on your website that can have it display your album, the top 10 most popular image son flickr, or pictures containing the tag car. its basically up to the programmer once the API is released
API= Application Programming Interface Its a matter for programmers These are ready made piece of code without any detailed source code lying beneath. As for example API is like a car stirring wheel. To use the car, u just know how to handle the stirring but not to inside engine mechanics. API protect original source code rather it allow users to use those code programmatically ONLY. In the Google Map API, there is a function called GMap. Programmer can use that to make different applications but within GMaps predefined boundary defined by Google. Programmer outside Google map team can not change the behavior of GMap to calculate 2+2. Hope this can give a little idea.
Google has several APIs. I think the most useful is the google Search API. but they've stopped giving out API keys.