Application Programming Interface (API)

What is an Application Programming Interface (API)?

An Application Programming Interface (API) is a software interface that lets two separate computer programs communicate and exchange data with each other.

The term API may refer either to the specification that describes how to build such a connection, or to the software that implements it. A system that meets the standard is said to "expose" an API.

How does an API work?

Whereas a "user interface" connects a computer to a person, an application programming interface connects software to other software. It is not intended to be used directly by an end user, but by a programmer incorporating it into their own application.

An API is typically made up of individual parts that act as tools or services available to the programmer. When a program uses one of these parts, it is said to "call" that portion of the API. These calls are sometimes also known as subroutines, methods, requests, or endpoints.

What is an API used for?

One key purpose of an API is to hide the internal workings of a system, exposing only the parts a programmer needs and keeping them consistent even if the internal details later change. APIs are often used to allow communication between computers connected over the internet.

The MIDAS API

Our MIDAS API allows developers to interface directly with our web-based scheduling software from their own websites and applications. The API returns data in JSON format, making it easy to read bookings, create reservations, and integrate MIDAS with other systems programmatically.