Endpoint

An endpoint is a specific location where a system, application, or service can send or receive data.

In web development, an endpoint often refers to a particular address exposed by an API. In networking, it can refer more broadly to a device, server, service, or connection point involved in communication.

Also known as: API endpoint, service endpoint, network endpoint.

How Does an Endpoint Work?

An endpoint acts as a defined access point for communication.

A typical API interaction may work like this:

1. A client sends a request to an endpoint.
2. The endpoint receives the request.
3. The server processes the request.
4. The server returns a response.
5. The client uses the returned data.

Different endpoints may support different operations, parameters, or data formats.

API Endpoint

An API endpoint is a specific interface used to access a function or resource within an application.

For example, an API may expose separate endpoints for:

products
customers
orders
inventory

Each endpoint can provide access to a different type of data or operation.

An endpoint may support methods such as:

GET
POST
PUT
PATCH
DELETE

The allowed methods depend on how the API is designed.