This is a submission for DEV Computer Science Challenge v24.06.12: One Byte Explainer.

Explainer

An API is like a school book written by professionals to explain gravity to a small kid. All complex mathematics are compiled so that a small kid could understand and use it. Similarly, developers write complex code and provide it to other users via an interface or book called an API.

Additional Context

This explains APIs using an analogy accessible to beginners: comparing them to school books that simplify complex topics, like gravity, for young children. It demonstrates how APIs make complex code usable for everyone through a straight forward interface.