What's API and how does it work ?

[do_little]

i know that API is Application Program Interface , but is it a programming language or what ? and i know that it used in applications to deal with the operating system and therefor the application needn't to know every detail about the hardware , it just tells the operating system what it wants and then the operating system does the rest , but how does that happenes? how deos it tells the OS that it needs say a block of memory?

thanks

[Tubothy]

An application program interface is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks. A programmer puts the blocks together.

Most operating environments, such as MS-Windows, provide an API so that programmers can write applications consistent with the operating environment. Although APIs are designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces. This makes it easier for users to learn new programs

- thanks to webopedia

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