An Open API, also called a Public API, is a publicly available application programming interface that provides developers with programmatic access to a proprietary software application or web service.

An Open API is like the ordering buttons on a public vending machine.

Restaurants tend to only be open for certain hours during the day. If you try to go to a restaurant after they are closed, you can’t access their waiter to order your food. A public vending machine is open 24/7 and is available to anyone who walks by.

Maybe the vending machine is in the park. You first need to go to the park, and then you can access the vending machine. If there are a lot of people trying to use the vending machine at once, it may be a little slow to place your order, but at any time of the day, you are able to go and press those buttons to get a snack.

An Open API is one that is publicly available to anyone who wants to utilize it.

What is an Open API?

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