Endpoints

An endpoint is a point of access at which a system receives or delivers data. In computing, endpoints are the interfaces through which components, services, or devices communicate. The term is used in multiple contexts, including network endpoints, API endpoints, and service endpoints.

Network endpoints refer to the points at which a device or service can be reached on a network. This typically includes a combination of an IP address or hostname and a port number, forming a network socket. Examples include the endpoint of a web server (for example, https://example.com:443) or a database service (db.example.local:5432).

API endpoints are specific URIs that perform actions or access resources via a protocol such as HTTP. Each endpoint is identified by a path, an HTTP method, and expected input and output formats. RESTful APIs organize endpoints around resources (for example, /users, /orders) using methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE. Other APIs may use RPC-style endpoints. Endpoints may be versioned, authenticated, and documented to support integration.

Security and reliability practices for endpoints include authentication and authorization, transport-layer encryption (for example TLS), input validation, and rate limiting. Health checks and monitoring help detect endpoint failures; load balancers and service discovery distribute requests across available endpoints. Proper endpoint management also involves logging, auditing, and defining clear error handling.

Good endpoint design emphasizes stability, clear documentation, versioning, and predictable behavior. Versioning may be implemented via path segments (for example, /v1) or headers. Documentation, example requests, error codes, and schema definitions aid implementers and reduce integration risks.