When trading forex, CFDs, and other financial instruments, trading APIs allow a user’s front-end system to connect to the broker’s back-end system through an encrypted communication channel. Practically speaking, this means that traders who utilize APIs are not committed to using the application or platform supplied by their broker. Instead, traders have the option to use third-party software or their own custom platform or app while remaining connected to their forex broker’s trading ecosystem. Unlike a read-only API – which doesn’t permit trading or account operations – a trading API provides full access, allowing you to trade your brokerage account programmatically. Trading APIs provide the ability to send and cancel orders, retrieve live prices and historical data, and access account details such as balances and current market prices. APIs can even link traders’ automated trading algorithms to their forex broker’s platform (check out our guide to high-frequency trading to read more about the best algo trading software and automated HFT algorithms). terminalNote: Some API connections can be as rudimentary as a few lines of code or an excel spreadsheet, while others may be a fully-fledged trading platform.