An **API** (Application Programming Interface) is an entity within the [[Service Delivery (CSDM domain)|Service Delivery domain]] of the [[Common Service Data Model|Common Service Data Model]] (CSDM), a reference architecture developed by [[ServiceNow|ServiceNow]] that provides prescriptive guidance on service-related definitions and data modeling within the ServiceNow AI Platform. The API data model enables organizations to centralize management of APIs as part of the [[Service Delivery Network|Service Delivery Network]], including viewing API details, comparing APIs, identifying and resolving data gaps, and managing service relationships. APIs are recorded in the cmdb_ci_api table with many additional elements that make up the full API data model, available through API Insights. APIs form part of the technology workflow components alongside [[Application (CSDM)|Applications]], [[AI Function|AI Functions]], [[AI Application|AI Applications]], hosts, and networking equipment. APIs use prescribed [[CMDB relationship|CMDB relationships]] including "Receives data from::Sends data to" with [[Application Service (CSDM)|Application Services]], "Receives data from::Sends data to" with [[Business Service (CSDM)|Business Services]], and "Provided by::Provides" with Applications. CSDM 5 places greater emphasis on integration, recognizing that most digital products and services rely on APIs for integration with internal or third-party services to provide necessary [[Business Capability (CSDM)|business capabilities]]. [[Information Object (CSDM)|Information Objects]] can capture how data may be exposed or consumed by APIs that [[Business Application (CSDM)|Business Applications]] implement across the [[CSDM Service Life Cycle|CSDM Service Life Cycle]].