Understand technical terms
Refer back to this glossary for a handy reference to technical terminology.
- API: a software interface that allows two pieces of software to communicate with one another.
- API call: a message sent asking the API to send or retrieve data. Also known as an API request.
- Array: ordered collections of values. In JSON, arrays are enclosed in square brackets and separated by commas.
- Authentication: approval that you have the right to make a certain API call.
- Authorization: how one is authenticated to make an API call. In Klaviyo, use your private API key in an Authorization header to authenticate API calls.
- Client: the origin point of the API call; who is making the API request.
- Endpoint: the location within the API that is set up to receive a specific request. Also known as request URL.
- HTTP: an internet communication protocol. Klaviyo's APIs use this protocol to communicate between systems.
- JSON: JavaScript Object Notation. This is a specific format used when sending data across the web. Klaviyo APIs return JSON data and accept JSON bodies.
- JSON object: a collection of key-value pairs enclosed in curly braces
- Key-value pair: a set of two related pieces of data. In JSON, keys are always surrounded by double quotes. When you look up the key, you get the value.
- Method: how the API interacts with the resource. This specifies whether the API should retrieve, alter, create, or remove data.
- Nested data: JSON data that is enclosed within another JSON object. In Klaviyo, nested data cannot be used for filtering nor segmentation.
- Payload: the data you send over or receive as part of an API call.
- Response: what you receive after making an API call. An API response consists of a status code and response body.
- Request: also known as an API call, the message sent asking the API to send or retrieve data.
- Request URL: the location within the API that is set up to receive a specific request. Also known as an API endpoint.
- Server: a computer program or computer that contains the data the API interacts with.
- Status code: also known as a response code, the 3 digit number representing the status of the API call.
- String: a text value. In JSON, strings must be surrounded with double quotation marks.
- Webhook: a method used to automatically send real-time data from one application to another whenever a specific event occurs.