An application program interface (API) is a code which allows two software programs to communicate with each other, and is used to build application software for a web browser or for mobile. There are 3 types of APIs : local, web-like and program-like.
APIs are important for businesses as they can provide useful features, which reduces development time and cost and decrease the risk of errors. Google APIs permit communication with Google Services and their integration to other services, these services include Search, Gmail, Translate or Google Maps.
The Google Maps API allows website administrators to embed Google Maps into their own page, which can be achieved using the Static maps API, Places API or Google Earth API. It also lets you customize maps with your own content and imagery and modify the maps using layers and styles.