Application Programming Interface (API)
An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of protocols and definitions that allow different software applications to communicate and exchange data.
Role in AI & Large Language Models
- External Interaction: APIs are essential for large-language-models (LLMs) to interact with external data sources, services, and computational tools.
- Tool Use: They provide the primary mechanism for agentic-ai to extend their capabilities beyond their static training data.
Emerging Standards
- model-context-protocol (MCP) vs. API:
- While APIs are the traditional method for facilitating external interaction, MCP is an emerging protocol designed specifically for the context-sharing needs of LLMs.
- Both frameworks aim to bridge the gap between models and external data, but they differ in their approach to handling context and tool integration.
Related Sources
- 2026 04 14 MCP vs API for LLM by IBM
Source Notes
- 2026-04-14: I Looked At Amazon After They Fired 16,000 Engineers. Their AI Broke Everything.
- 2026-04-07: Demystifying Claude Code Key Concepts for Non Technical Users · ▶ source