Skip to content

Definitions

TERM(S) DEFINITION
API / Server / Resource server A server-side API, including API gateways acting as reverse proxies. Categorised as Open, internal or client specific. See Appendix A.
API Consumer team / Consumer Individuals or teams integrating APIs into client applications. Typically developers or software professionals.
API Platform team / Platform team Manages Apigee tools and standards, simplifying API implementation.
API Producer team Develops backend APIs. Teams can be internal or third-party.
Authorisation grant Credential representing the end user's authorisation of a client to access API resources.
Breaking change An update that causes existing dependent code to fail or behave unexpectedly.
Calling Application / Client / Client application A software application making API requests. Clients may be Public (e.g. Single Page Applications) or Confidential (e.g. server-side web applications).
End User / Resource owner / User The user who controls access to specific API resources.
End User Delegation / Delegation Allows users to grant clients permission to access API resources.
Endpoint The URL or URI representing a unique API resource.
FHIR Profile Defines constraints, extensions, and specific use cases for FHIR resources tailored for healthcare systems or domains.
Namespace A group of related endpoints providing specific functionality or hierarchy, ensuring clarity and avoiding naming conflicts.
NHS Wales Identity Provider Secure Token Service issuing OAuth and OpenID Connect tokens for authentication and authorisation.
Proxy Middleware enhancing security, analytics, and API management, acting as a gateway to backend APIs.
Resource(s) / resource model(s) Data fields representing objects, accessible via unique URLs or endpoints, forming the API's core.
Service / System A system exposing one or more API endpoints. Sometimes used interchangeably with Namespace.