The practices, architectural techniques and tools for achieving the consistent access and delivery of data across the spectrum of data subject areas and data structure types in the enterprise to meet the data consumption requirements of all applications and business processes.
A set of protocols, routines, functions and/or commands that programmers use to develop software or facilitate interaction between distinct systems. APIs are available for both desktop and mobile use, and are typically useful for programming graphic user interface components, as well as allowing a software program to request and accommodate services from another program.
This definition explicitly excludes any "API" that relies on local binding (e.g. via loading a DLL) to function.
Enterprise application integration EAI use of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications, furthermore, the process of keeping redundant copies of data (in independently designed applications) consistent, or enabling end-users to access data and functionality from independently designed applications on a single user interface.
A computer program or set of programs that meet a defined set of business needs. A program or group of programs designed for end users. These programs are divided into two classes: system software and application software. While system software consists of low-level programs that interact with computers at a basic level, application software resides above system software and includes applications such as database programs, word processors and spreadsheets. Application software may be grouped along with system software or published alone.
