# What Is API Integration? API vs Integration, Explained

An API is the interface a system exposes. An API integration is the logic that uses those interfaces for a business purpose, including what happens when something fails. This guide explains the difference, when REST, SOAP or GraphQL fits, and lessons on security and error handling.

**What the full article covers:**

- What an API Actually Is
- So, What Is an Integration?
- The Difference Between an API and an API Integration
- What an API Integration Looks Like in Real Work
- REST, SOAP, and GraphQL: Why the API Type Matters
- Authentication and Security in API Integration

Read the full article on our website: [What Is API Integration? API vs Integration, Explained](https://www.vortexwebinnovate.com/blog/api-integration-differences)

*Originally published by [Vortex Web Innovate](https://www.vortexwebinnovate.com), a US-based software development company in Easthampton, Massachusetts.*