What does API stand for?

API stands for Application Programming Interface. This term refers to a set of rules and protocols that enables different software applications to communicate with each other. An API defines the methods and data formats that applications can use to request and exchange information, thus allowing developers to build functionalities that can interact seamlessly with other applications, services, or systems.

For example, when a developer wants to integrate a third-party service into their application, they utilize the service's API. By doing so, they can access the service's features without needing to understand the internal workings of that service, promoting efficiency and modularity in software development.

The other options, while they may sound plausible, do not accurately represent the concept of APIs. For instance, "Advanced Programming Interface" and "Automated Programming Interaction" do not convey the specific focus on applications, nor do they describe the standardized communication aspect inherent to APIs. "Application Performance Indicator" refers to metrics used to assess the performance of an application rather than a framework for interfacing between different software systems.