Framework vs API

This is an interesting question I've been trying to answer; what makes a framework and what makes an API, and what are the differences? I've used both, in several languages, but it never really got clear to me what separates the two.

Most of the time it doesn't stop you from writing code like you always do. I'd just like to know.

You live in a house (framework); you use a tv (api).

Well it isn't very clearcut and they're practically the same thing.

Here are my defintions:

API: provides a way to interface with something by giving you a set of functions, like the windows api is used to tell windows what to do.

framework: is more of an abstraction layer, it's there to make things simpler. for example the .NET framework provides lots of libraries to do things which would usually take lots a lots of api calls.

Check this now....

framework vs api

framework - A Framework may contain one or more APIs. Framework is a broad term. A framework specifies the implementation of behaviour.

API - The concept is any well defined interface between two separate programs. API doesn't specify the implementation of behaviour.

Use your head now!!!!

frame-work, 2 word.

u frame up the problems first so that u can do the work.

api - simply interfaces that programs applications

that's what i think.

The definitions of wikipedia, which seem to correspond and extend what has already been said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_framework

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applic...mming_interface

Nice topic.