EntitlementAPI

EntitlementAPI is a web API designed to centralize the management and verification of user entitlements across software applications. It provides a programmatic way to determine whether a given user should have access to a specific product, feature, or resource based on licenses, subscriptions, roles, or other policy criteria. By abstracting entitlement logic from client applications, it serves as a single source of truth for access rights and can support consistent enforcement across systems.

Core capabilities typically include retrieving a user’s entitlements, checking access to a resource in real time, and creating, updating, or revoking entitlements. Common endpoints may cover listing entitlements, retrieving a specific entitlement, granting new entitlements, revoking existing ones, and validating access for a user against a resource. Many implementations also offer batch queries to verify multiple resources for a user efficiently.

Data models generally involve Entitlement records that connect a user to a resource or product. Fields commonly include id, user_id, resource_id or product_id, entitlement_type (such as license, subscription, or feature), status (for example active or expired), granted_at, expires_at, and optional metadata for policy or billing context.

Security and integration considerations include the use of OAuth 2.0 or API keys, scoped access, and token-based assertions. Responses are often cached for performance, with robust auditing, rate limiting, and idempotent operations to support reliable integrations. Entitlement data frequently integrates with identity providers, billing systems, and policy engines to reflect current access rights and lifecycle changes.

Usage considerations include latency sensitivity, privacy implications, and ensuring in-app enforcement aligns with server-side checks. See also access control, license management, and entitlement policies.