Technology
How does an API call work?
An API call is how one program asks another for data or an action. Your app sends a request to a specific URL (the endpoint), the server processes it, and sends back a structured response — often JSON — which your app then uses.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how an API call works.
Step by step
- 1Your app sends a request to an API endpoint (URL).
- 2The request may include parameters or data.
- 3The server processes it and returns a response.
- 4The response is usually structured data like JSON.
Frequently asked questions
- How does an API call work?
- Your app sends a request to an API's endpoint; the server processes it and returns structured data in response.
- What is an API endpoint?
- A specific URL that accepts requests for a particular piece of data or action.
- What format do APIs usually return?
- Most modern web APIs return data as JSON, which apps can easily read and use.