Application Program Interface
<programming> (API, or "application programming interface") The interface
(calling conventions) by which an application program accesses operating system
and other services. An API is defined at source code level and provides a level
of abstraction between the application and the kernel (or other privileged
utilities) to ensure the portability of the code.
An API can also provide an interface between a high level language and lower
level utilities and services which were written without consideration for the
calling conventions supported by compiled languages. In this case, the API's
main task may be the translation of parameter lists from one format to another
and the interpretation of call-by-value and call-by-reference arguments in one
or both directions.
(1995-02-15)
Nearby terms:
application layer « Application Portability
Architecture « application program « Application
Program Interface » Application Programming
Interface » Application Protocol Data Unit »
Applications Development Manager
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