What is a CLI vs API?
A CLI is a way to interact with software by typing commands into a terminal, while an API is a way for programs to communicate with each other through defined interfaces.
Simple difference:
- CLI: designed for humans to type commands and get immediate results, like running git status or docker ps.
- API: designed for software to call functions or send requests programmatically, often for automation or integration.
When each is used:
- Use a CLI when you want to do quick, manual tasks from a terminal.
- Use an API when you want code, scripts, or other services to automate tasks or exchange data reliably.
Related content
What is MCP (Model Context Protocol) and why does it matter for IT support automation?
MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is a standard from Anthropic that gives AI agents a single, consistent way to read and write data across your existing tools, making it practical to automate multi-step IT support processes without building custom integrations from scratch.
