Business analysis glossary
Endpoint
What it is
An endpoint is a specific address of an API where a particular request can be sent, for example /orders or /orders/123. Each endpoint supports certain actions and returns a defined response. An endpoint is usually shown with a method, such as GET /orders, because the same address can behave differently depending on the method.
Why it matters
When you write an API requirement, you are describing endpoints: what each accepts, what it returns and what errors it may give. Clear endpoint descriptions prevent integration mistakes. Documenting endpoints in a table, with purpose, inputs and outputs, gives developers and testers a quick reference.
Example
At Cedar Credit Union the endpoint GET /accounts/{id}/balance returns the current balance for one account. A requirement says it must return an error if the account does not exist. Such a precise sentence leaves no doubt about the success case, the failure case or which system owns the data.