InterfaceVertrag

InterfaceVertrag is a contractual construct used in software engineering and systems integration to formalize the specifications and responsibilities governing interfaces between two or more components, systems, or organizations. It aims to ensure interoperability, compatibility, and predictable behavior by defining the interface contract, including data formats, communication protocols, message sequencing, versioning, and error handling.

Key elements typically include the scope of interfaces covered, the detailed interface specification (data models, syntax, encoding, transport), reliability and performance requirements, and security and privacy obligations. The contract also outlines change management procedures for updates to the interface, responsibilities for development, testing, and conformance assessment, and acceptance criteria with remedies in case of non-compliance.

Lifecycle aspects cover creation, negotiation, maintenance, and deprecation. Change control may require publication of an interface specification artifact and policies on backward compatibility or migration paths. Governance may address compliance verification, audits, and dispute resolution.

In practice, InterfaceVerträge are common between API providers and consumers, system integrators, and hardware–software boundaries, such as in enterprise software ecosystems, cloud services, or telecommunications. They help reduce integration risk by specifying when and how components interact, what data is exchanged, and who bears the risk for failures or security breaches.

Related concepts include API contracts, service level agreements, data contracts, and interface design.