API
的缩写 a应用价值 program interface, is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software a应用价值s. A good API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks. A programmer then puts those blocks together.
Most operating environments, such as MS-Windows, provide an API so that programmers can write a应用价值s consistent with the operating environment. 虽然api designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces. 这样就容易多了 for users to learn new programs.
An API specifies how some software components should interact with each other. 在实践中, most often an API is a library that includes specifications for routines,data structures, object 类和变量. An API specification can take many forms, including an International Standard, vendor documentation such as the Microsoft Windows API orthe libraries of 编程语言. An API differs from an a应用价值 binary interface (ABI) in that an API is source code based while an ABI is a binary interface.
资源:
Information about Canvas API [pdf]
