An Air pump is a device that forces air through tubing this is used to power things such as sponge filters, decorative ornaments and to add oxygen to the water by increasing surface agitation. Or to simply add bubbles for decorative reasons using a flexible airstone/curtain.
If you have your air pump below your tanks water level you need a check valve this will prevent the water back siphoning into the air pump which in turn can slowly empty the tank, if there is a power outage or if the air pump fails.