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1. Overview
In this tutorial, we’ll learn about API (Application Programming Interface) and SDK (Software Development Kit). After that, we compare them together and learn the differences between them.
2. What Is API?
APIs are functions and data structures that we can use in our source code to communicate with another program (like a web application).
For example, we can add YouTube functionality to our website or application using the YouTube Data API. Further, we can use the API to upload videos or search for content.
3. What Is SDK?
A Software Development Kit (SDK) is a set of tools for creating an application for a specific platform. It is provided by the company that created the platform (which can be a programming language, hardware, or operating system).
For example, the Java Development kit (JDK) is provided by Oracle that we can use to create applications for the Java programming language. Further, iOS SDK is provided by Apple, and we can use it to develop applications for the iOS and iPadOS operating systems. Furthermore, the Raspberry Pi Pico C/C++ SDK is provided by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to write programs for the Raspberry Pi Pico hardware.
4. What Is the Difference?
In brief, an API is an interface for communicating with another program, while an SDK is a toolkit for creating applications:
| API | SDK |
|---|---|
| Used for communicating with other programs | Used for creating programs |
| Can be used by any platform | For a specific platform |
| Provided by the service provider | Provided by the creator/manufacturer of the platform |
5. Conclusion
In this article, we learned the difference between an API and an SDK.