Abbreviation of, Distributed Application Program Interface; a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications A DAPI makes it easier to develop distributed programs (or applications) by providing all the building blocks for a programmer to use in developing distributed applications A DAPI is a form of application program interface Most operating environments provide application program interfaces so that programmers can write applications consistent with the operating environment Although application program interfaces are designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common application program interface will have similar interfaces