API
An API is a defined way for two software systems to exchange requests and data—for example, an online shop sending a customer order to the business system.
A worked example
A practical example to make the concept clear.
| Step | Illustrative record and result |
|---|---|
| Starting record | An example online shop sends order SHOP-DEMO-10 for 2 kits to the business system. |
| Change or calculation | The system checks the permitted shop, product and quantity, then returns order reference SO-DEMO-10. |
| Meaning and exception | If the shop repeats SHOP-DEMO-10 after a timeout, the agreed duplicate rule should return the existing result or a clear conflict, rather than creating another sale. |
Why it matters
The exchange lets staff connect an online order to a business record without retyping it. Permission, accepted data and error handling still need to be agreed for the specific integration.
Make it practical
What happens when an authenticated request is duplicated or its payload is invalid? Test the answer with the exact release and application package under consideration. Explore Datrylo applications.