---
title: "API: plain-language definition | Am I Ready for Agents?"
description: "API: A documented way for software to ask your systems for data or to do something, without using the web pages. Dated and sourced."
canonical: https://amireadyforagents.com/glossary/api
site: "Am I Ready for Agents?"
last_updated: 2026-11-04
section: "Glossary"
---

# API: plain-language definition | Am I Ready for Agents?

> API: A documented way for software to ask your systems for data or to do something, without using the web pages. Dated and sourced.

Source: https://amireadyforagents.com/glossary/api
Site: Am I Ready for Agents?
Last reviewed: 2026-11-04

# API

## In short

An API is the described way for software to act without clicking through your pages. Whether to publish an API or an MCP server is the next stop after API. The neighbouring terms are OpenAPI and MCP (Model Context Protocol). The AgentReady guide recommends a public API described with OpenAPI (October 2026).

## Definition

A documented way for software to ask your systems for data or to do something, without using the web pages.

## A dated example

-   Read 4 Nov 2026
    
    The AgentReady guide recommends a public API described with OpenAPI (October 2026).
    
    Vendor claim. [AgentReady.org guide](https://agentready.org/?utm_source=amireadyforagents.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=glossary), read 4 Nov 2026
    

## Where it matters

It is the described way for software to act without clicking through your pages.

-   [Whether to publish an API or an MCP server](https://amireadyforagents.com/decisions/publish-api-or-mcp)

## Related terms

-   [OpenAPI](https://amireadyforagents.com/glossary/openapi)A standard file format that describes an API so software, including agents, can read what it does.
-   [MCP (Model Context Protocol)](https://amireadyforagents.com/glossary/mcp-model-context-protocol)An open standard for offering an AI agent a set of named actions it can call, such as search providers or book an appointment.

## Sources

1.  [AgentReady.org guide](https://agentready.org/?utm_source=amireadyforagents.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=glossary) (agentready.org), read 4 Nov 2026. Vendor claim.

Last reviewed 4 November 2026

Reviewed 4 November 2026. [1 source](#sources), each with the day it was read.