What is a c++ api

[SlothUchiha]

i want to make a sprite based platformer in c++ and everywhere i look says i need an api to put sprites and c++ code together but i dont know what one is or how to use them. so can you tell me what an api is?

[JLBorges]

You need a library which has the functionality to draw things on the screen.
The interface provided by the library in the form of header files is called its API.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Application_programming_interface

For a list of open sorce libraries: see 'General Multimedia' and 'Graphics' in http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/links/libs

[SlothUchiha]

how would you use one in conjunction with c++ code? can you link me to some kind of tutorial?

[KMagic]

How about using SDL 2.0 graphic library. This site has some good tutorials that you can learn how to include a library in your code: lazyfoo.net/tutorials/SDL/