Question 1

What’s the difference between an SDK and an API?

Accepted Answer

An API is the interface (the set of endpoints, methods, and rules) you can call to use a service. An SDK is a package that helps you use that API more easily—typically including prebuilt client libraries, authentication helpers, examples, and documentation. You can call an API without an SDK (e.g., with raw HTTP requests), but an SDK usually makes it faster and less error-prone.

Question 2

When should I use an SDK instead of calling the API directly?

Accepted Answer

Use an SDK when you want faster development, safer authentication handling, built-in retries/pagination, and idiomatic code for your language (e.g., Python classes, Java builders). Call the API directly when you need minimal dependencies, your language/platform isn’t supported, you need full control over HTTP behavior, or you’re troubleshooting and want to see the raw requests.

Question 3

How much does an SDK cost?

Accepted Answer

Most SDKs are free to download and use. Costs usually come from the services you access with the SDK (e.g., cloud compute, storage, API requests) and operational factors like network egress, logging, and monitoring. Some vendors may offer paid enterprise support or premium tooling, but the core SDK is typically free.

SDK

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Real-World Example

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