← Glossary Term
API
A direct connection that lets one piece of software talk to another, including AI models.
An API is the plug socket of software. Instead of clicking through an app, a program sends a request straight to another program and gets an answer back. When a company says its AI is “available via API”, it means developers can wire the model into their own tools rather than using the chat window.
The practical consequence is pricing. API access is usually billed per use, based on how much text goes in and comes out, while consumer subscriptions charge a flat monthly fee. That is why the same model can feel free in an app and expensive through an API.
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