API stands for Application Programming Interface.

API 就是所謂的應用程式介面（Application Programming Interface）

And the way I like to think about it is it's sort of

我會這樣理解 API：

in opposition to a graphical user

它是相對於圖形使用者介面

interface, which is the website that you use to click around.

也就是你平常觀看點擊的網站的一種介面

And specifically, a graphical user interface

圖形使用者介面特指

is for a human to talk to a computer.

人類與電腦溝通的介面

We care about fonts.

我們會在意字型

We care about nice color palettes.

我們會在意色彩配置

But if a computer is talking to a computer,

但電腦與電腦溝通時

they don't particularly care about how things look.

它們並不會特別在意這些視覺的元素

All they need to do is to pass data and commands back

它們只在乎指令與資訊的

between each other.

來回傳遞

So that's what an API allows computers to do.

這就是 API 在做的事情

So what's so great about APIs?

所以 API 有什麼好處呢？

Why do we build them?

為什麼我們要建立 API？

They allow customers to design workflows

API 可以讓客戶客製針對其商業需求

that suit their own business needs

的工作流程

so that the functionality behind an API-- for example,

所以 API 的功能，舉例來說

our 3Play functionality-- are all

我們的 3Play 功能

exposed to the customers who can then mix and match

讓消費者可以依照他們的喜好

those in certain ways however they like.

接觸調整並進行混合與配對

That allows them to automate repetitive manual tasks,

讓他們自動化以往必須手動的設定

especially if you have a lot of things that need

特別是當你有大量的工作要進行時

to be done at a large scale.

這樣的自動化相當好用

And that led to reduced costs, and labor,

也能進而節省成本以及勞力

and workflow, and organizational complexity.

降低工作流程及組織上的複雜度