Say it like this
- We need to expose an API for third-party developers
- Call the API to fetch user data
- The API documentation is unclear
Use it at work
Working with another team
- Does your team have an API for user profiles?
- Can you share the API docs?
Reporting a problem
- The API is returning 500 errors since this morning.
- The API is slow when we request more than 100 items.
Planning work
- We'll expose this as a public API next quarter.
- Let's agree on the API before the front end starts.
Don't say this
API is a noun, not a verb. You do not API something; you use or call an API.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| API | Rules for apps to talk to each other | Developers | Whenever systems connect |
| endpoint | One URL in an API | Developers | Per request type |
| SDK | Tools and code to use an API easily | Developers | When building on a platform |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your teammate asks how to get weather data from an external service. What do you say?
2. We cannot deploy until the _______ is fully documented and tested.
3. Which sentence uses API incorrectly?
4. Rewrite in natural tech English: 'We made a request to the service and received a response with the information we needed.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We need to expose an API for third-party developers"
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about API
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"Yesterday I finished integrating the payment API so customers can now check out directly from our app."
- in a code review
"Make sure this endpoint follows our API design standards before we merge."
- in a team meeting
"The third-party API we relied on went down, which is why our service was unavailable for two hours."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Non-native speakers sometimes treat API as a verb (APIing) when it should remain a noun. API is not a tool you use, but a set of rules and protocols that enables communication between systems.
- ✕This API tool helps us integrate payments.✓This payment API allows us to integrate payments into our app.
An API is not a tool itself; it is a set of protocols and rules that enables communication between applications.
- ✕The API is very slow because it downloads too much data.✓The API response is slow because the server is overloaded.
The API itself is not slow; rather, the server providing the API or the network connection may be slow.
Other forms(3)
- API noun
"The REST API returns JSON formatted data."
- APIs noun
"We use several third-party APIs to enhance our platform."
- API (used as modifier) adjective
"Our API documentation is available on GitHub."
Often used with(6)
- call an API · to make a request to an API endpoint
- REST API · API using REST architectural principles, very common in web development
- API endpoint · a specific URL where an API can be accessed
- API key · a unique identifier used to authenticate API requests
- API documentation · written instructions explaining how to use an API
- third-party API · an API provided by an external company or service
Similar words(2)
- interface · Generic term, but API is more specific to software communication
- protocol · Set of rules, but protocol is broader; API is a specific type of protocol
Questions(5)
- What does API stand for?
- API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a standardized set of rules that describes how software applications can communicate with each other and share data.
- How do you use API in a sentence at work?
- You typically use API as a noun. Examples: We called the Google Maps API to display locations. / The API requires authentication with an API key. / Our backend exposes a REST API for mobile clients.
- Is API formal or informal?
- API is neutral in formality. It is used equally in formal technical documentation, casual team conversations, and interviews. It is professional and standard across all contexts in tech.
- What is the difference between an API and a library?
- A library is code you import directly into your application, while an API is a set of rules for communication between separate applications, often accessed over the network.
- Do I need to know how an API works internally?
- No. As a developer using an API, you only need to know how to call it and what data it returns. You do not need to understand its internal implementation unless you are building the API.
