I have to create an API for one of my accounts.  I think I know what it is, but having these senior moments is not helping me create it.  I know that I need to attach it somehow to a database and somehow let the whole form thingy go to the billing department.   Tried to do a search on the term API but what I get I don't understand.  Help Please. Please and Thank you.

API usually this stands for

Application Programming Interface

It's usually based on a server-client system and communicates with XML

Sometimes the client just asks the the server for information. Sometimes the client sends an RPC (remote proceedure call) to the server and the server does something, maybe returning inofrmation

or is it like a google api to allow some functionality?

matte wrote:

or is it like a google api to allow some functionality?

True.

These 'API's are basically javascript libraries that you include in your website and then write your own javascript based on your business logic and the objects, methods and properties supplied by the library

Thanks guys,  I was very confused with this.  I know a few years ago I had a API associated with paypal account.
Went out and got two books, one on php and one on javascript.  They both show examples of how to connect to the database, mysqul and have some sample script.  It's the sample script that helps me better to understand what I am dealing with.  Will take a little while but I will keep plugging at it.  Thanks to all of you for trying to help me.


I think that I did something really scarry yesterday.  I had my youngest two decide on domain names they would like to have.  Created a hosting account for them and told them that they have to create the sites themself.  The youngest one has decided on a  name and we registered it,  the other one will give me the name tomorrow.  Told both of them to use this forum as a big aide in there exploration of building a web site.   (I'd tell you the url's but there is nothing there. yet.