Difference between API and microservices

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Accepted Answer

API is a set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications, while microservices is an architectural style that structures an application as a collection of small, autonomous services.

API is a communication interface that allows different software systems to interact with each other.
Microservices is an architectural approach where an application is composed of small, independent services that communicate with each other over a network.
APIs can be used within a monolithic application, while microservices are typically used to break down a monolithic application into smaller, more manageable services.
APIs can be used to expose functionality of a single application, while microservices can be used to build complex, distributed systems.
Examples: RESTful APIs, SOAP APIs for APIs; Netflix, Amazon, Uber for microservices.