Technology
API (Application Programming Interface)
[object Object]
A standardized interface that allows different software systems to communicate and exchange data. APIs define what requests a system will accept and what responses it will return—the digital equivalent of cell membrane receptors.
Biological Context
APIs function like cell membrane receptors—selective interfaces that enable controlled exchange while maintaining system boundaries. Receptors accept specific ligands in specific configurations and trigger specific intracellular responses. This selectivity enables complex multicellular coordination: without standardized interfaces, cells cannot cooperate. The lock-and-key specificity of biological receptors parallels the typed contracts of well-designed APIs.