Application programming interface (API)
Uygulama Programlama Arayüzü (API)
D3
An API is a defined interface through which one software component requests a capability or data from another component.
Review status: 2026-12-04
Technical explanation
In an AI application, an API can expose a model, retrieval service, database, or business function through specified requests and responses.
Conceptual boundaries
An API is an interface contract, not the underlying model, service, or a guarantee that a request is authorized or correct.
Provider-neutral example
A support application sends an authenticated account-status request to a documented service API and receives the specified response fields.
Limitations
Interface conformance does not prove the truth, completeness, security, or fitness of returned data; applications still need authorization, validation, and error handling.
Related concepts
Atomic claims and evidence
1.1NIST CSRC Glossary, Application Programming Interface (API)
- Source
- NIST CSRC Glossary, Application Programming Interface (API)
- Source role
- Authoritative source
- Exact locator
- Definition: system access point or library function
- Supported claim
- NIST defines an API as a system access point or library function with well-defined syntax that provides well-defined functionality.
- Last verification
- Review due
- Scope limitation
- This general definition does not specify a network protocol, authorization model, or AI use case.
2.1Anthropic API, Tool use with Claude
- Source
- Anthropic API, Tool use with Claude
- Source role
- Authoritative source
- Exact locator
- Tool use overview: tool use/function calling and structured call execution
- Supported claim
- Anthropic documents tool use as calling defined or provider-supplied functions and returning a structured call for execution.
- Last verification
- Review due
- Scope limitation
- This describes Anthropic's tool-use interface and does not establish interchangeability across providers.