http://www.zwsoft.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=1711 API, an abbreviation of <em><strong>a</strong>pplication <strong>p</strong>rogram <strong>i</strong>nterface</em>, is a set of <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/routine.html" target="_blank">routines</a>, <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/protocol.html" target="_blank">protocols</a>, and tools for building <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/A/application.html" target="_blank">software applications</a>. A good API makes it easier to develop a <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/program.html" target="_blank">program</a> by providing all the building blocks. A <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/P/programmer.html" target="_blank">programmer</a> then puts the blocks together. Most <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/O/operating_environment.html" target="_blank">operating environments</a>, such as <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MS_Windows.html" target="_blank">MS-Windows</a>, 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 <a href="http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/U/user.html" target="_blank">users</a> because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces. This makes it easier for users to learn new programs. attacker3x 2011-01-14 11:38:36