Northbound interface
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In computer networking and computer architecture, a northbound interface of a component is an interface that conceptualizes the lower level details (e.g., data or functions) used by, or in, the component. A northbound interface is used to interface with higher level layers using the southbound interface of the higher level component(s). In architectural overviews, the northbound interface is normally drawn at the top of the component it is defined in, hence the name northbound interface.
A southbound interface decomposes concepts in the technical details, mostly specific to a single component of the architecture. Southbound interfaces are drawn at the bottom of an architectural overview.
Northbound interfaces normally talk to southbound interfaces of higher level components and vice versa.
Typical use
A northbound interface is typically an output-only interface (as opposed to one that accepts user input) found in carrier-grade network and telecommunications network elements. The languages or protocols commonly used include SNMP and TL1. For example, a device that is capable of sending out syslog messages but that is not configurable by the user is said to implement a northbound interface. Other examples include SMASH, IPMI, WSMAN, SOAP, etc.