ransfer) API, or RESTful API, is an application programming interface (API or Web API) that conforms to the constraints of REST architectural style and allows for interaction with RESTful web services.

A REST API is the way your waiter writes down your order.

A waiter can record your order in many different ways. Maybe the try to memorize all of the orders and don’t write anything down. Maybe they have a blank pad of paper, or pre-organized pad of all menu items. Maybe, they just use an iPad.

Depending on the restaurant and the responsibilities of the waiter, they may choose a specific way to take your order to most effectively facilitate the transfer of information.

A REST API is a style of API that dictates how you can access and use data.

What is a REST API?

A code repository, also referred to as a code repo, is a place where developers can store, share and collaborate on the source code of a software project. Beyond the code itself, you can keep documentation, notes, web pages, and other items in your repository.

A library stores books, a compilation of information and resources, that can be shared by many people. A library has different sections for different types of books, keeping the information it stores in an organized manner. A library also has a system to track who checks out book, ensuring that it tracks version controls of its stock of information.

Some libraries are public, like a local Public Library, whereas other libraries may be private, like a school's library, which is reserved only for students and faculty.

A code repository is the home for source code and it's relevant resources, allowing collaboration between developers.

What is a code repository?

A server is a computer program or device that provides a service to another computer program and its user, also known as the client.

A server is like an apartment building. It is the infrastructure that allows the apartment to exist. The building provides lighting, gas, electricity and occupancy space to each apartment.

If everyone who lives in the apartment building tries to enter the front doors at the same time, the apartment building may not be able to handle that as well as another building with larger doors. If each apartment is over maximum occupancy, the apartment building may not properly serve its people.

So, as the building owner, you either need to improve the building infrastructure to accommodate the quantity of people or you buy a new building to serve more residents.

As the building owner, you need to know the limitations as to what your apartment building can serve.

Servers are the physical computers that allow your websites to live on the internet. When something lives on the cloud, that just means that it is not on a local or private server and instead is on a server that is shared by numerous others.

What is a server?

nterface) is a set of functions and procedures allowing the creation of applications that access the features or data of an operating system, application, or other service.

Imagine that you are sitting down in a restaurant. You are representing the end user. The kitchen that prepares your food is representing the backend. The waiter is who communicates between the two, just like an API.

When you enter the restaurant, you interact with the waiter and place your order. The waiter then walks over to the kitchen and tells them what they need to prepare. Once ready, the waiter will bring your order from the kitchen back to you.

An API is what helps facilitate communication between two applications, whether that be the frontend and backend or the backend or your platform and a 3rd party’s services.

What is an API?

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 a REST API?

What is a code repository?

What is a server?

What is an API?

What is an Open API?

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