Data engineering and IT
API
Short for application programming interface.
- Data engineering and IT
Definition
Short for application programming interface. A set of rules that lets one system request data or actions from another.
Example
A website requests an order status from a back-end service through a documented API endpoint.
See how it works
GET /api/orders/123
200 OK
{"order_id":123,"status":"shipped"}The client receives structured information rather than directly reading the database.
Illustrative request and response, not an actual Insyt endpoint.
Check your understanding
Common mistake: An API is an interface between systems; it is not the database or a guarantee of data quality.
Why might an API require authentication?
Show explanation
It lets the service enforce who may request or change protected information.
For your role
Choose your role to see what this term means in your work.
Why it matters
APIs let systems share data automatically instead of by manual export.
Where it is used
System integrations, developer documentation and data connections.