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section: Timeline
title: API Timeline
summary: 320 moments in the evolution of APIs, from pre-historic communication through the AI agent protocols of 2025.
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sub: API
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          <p>I am perpetually captivated by how APIs have evolved over time. Since I began discussing APIs, I've often heard that their origins predate the timelines I mention in my historical narratives or blog posts. Honestly, if we view "application" as the act of applying a concept or resource, then APIs can be traced back as far as African drumming circles. This timeline currently captures 320 moments — from pre-historic communication, through the telegraph, mainframes, the web, and the commercial API era, all the way up to the Model Context Protocol and the agent-to-agent protocols of 2025. I revisit and expand this narrative regularly, and this page reflects what I currently consider to be the API timeline.</p>

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          <p>I am also exploring other perspectives on this landscape. My <a href="https://apievangelist.com/timeline/resources/">resources timeline</a> looks at API providers through the digital resources they made available, my <a href="https://apievangelist.com/timeline/industry/">industry timeline</a> studies how the regulation of railroads, telecommunications, electricity, and radio unfolded — and what that history means for APIs and AI — and my <a href="https://apievangelist.com/timeline/people/">people timeline</a> profiles the people behind compute, networks, and the API economy.</p>
  
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