What do APIs do? (two correct answers) A. API takes a Request, transmits it to the system, and delivers the Response back. B. API delivers back only the correct Responses. C. API answers your Requests. D. API translates your Requests to another machine language.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answers are A and D.
Explanation:
A. API takes a Request, transmits it to the system, and delivers the Response back:
An API (Application Programming Interface) is essentially an intermediary that facilitates communication between different software systems. When you send a request to a system through an API, it transmits that request to the appropriate service or server. The system processes the request and sends back a response. This response can include data or an acknowledgment of an action taken. APIs are designed to allow applications to communicate with each other without needing to know how the other works internally. For example, when you interact with an app that pulls data from a weather service, the app sends a request to the weather service API, and the API sends back the weather data.
D. API translates your Requests to another machine language:
APIs often serve as a bridge between different programming languages or systems. They can translate requests from one format into another that the receiving system understands. This translation might involve converting data types, translating high-level commands into lower-level instructions, or converting data formats like JSON or XML to something a server or service understands. This is especially useful when integrating different platforms or technologies that need to communicate.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- B. API delivers back only the correct Responses:
While an API is designed to deliver responses, it’s not guaranteed to always provide the “correct” response. Responses can be error messages, timeouts, or even data that the system wasn’t expecting. APIs don’t ensure correctness but rather attempt to deliver whatever the system responds with. - C. API answers your Requests:
While this might seem true, it’s a bit oversimplified. APIs handle the request and translate it, but the response may not always be an “answer” in the literal sense. For example, a request might result in an error message or data, not just a direct answer.
In summary, APIs enable systems to communicate effectively, handling requests and translating them into machine language that can be understood by the appropriate service or system.
