Glossary: SchemaGlossary

A schema is a structured framework that defines the organization, structure, and constraints of data or information. Schemas are used in various fields to standardize and organize information, making it easier to manage, understand, and manipulate data.

In the context of APIs, a schema defines the structure, format, and types of data that an API can accept and return. It defines both the request and response data formats, ensuring that clients and servers can communicate. Schemas are particularly important for maintaining consistency and validating data in API interactions.

Key aspects of API schemas include:

• Structure: What data is included in a given data structure, and how it is organized — scalars (single values), collections (objects or arrays), and nesting.
• Data types: The specific type for each data element, which includes numbers, strings, booleans, arrays, and objects.
• Constraints: Restrictions on the data, such as required fields, default values, minimum and maximum values, and specific formats (e.g., date, email).