A specific URL in an API that accepts requests and returns data or performs an action for a particular resource.
An API is made up of endpoints. Each endpoint represents a specific function: one endpoint might return a list of all datasets, another might return details for a specific dataset, and a third might accept new data submissions. Endpoints are the building blocks of an API's interface.
Endpoints are typically documented in an API reference, which describes the URL, the HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), the parameters it accepts, and the format of the response.
Example: A city's open data API has several endpoints:
GET /datasets— returns a list of all available datasetsGET /datasets/{id}— returns details for a specific datasetGET /datasets/{id}/download— returns the dataset file
A developer building an application queries the appropriate endpoint for each piece of information they need.