Northbound and southbound interfaces relate to computer servers

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

.

Definitions

A northbound interface of a component is an interface

Interface (computer science)

In the field of computer science, an interface is a tool and concept that refers to a point of interaction between components, and is applicable at the level of both hardware and software...

 that conceptualizes the lower level details(e.g data

Data (computing)

In computer science, data is information in a form suitable for use with a computer. Data is often distinguished from programs. A program is a sequence of instructions that detail a task for the computer to perform...

 or functions) used by, or in, the component. It is used to interface with higher level

High level

High Level may refer to:In computing*High-level assembler, a type of assembly language translator*High Level Architecture , a military computer simulation framework*High-level programming language, a type of computer programming language...

 layers

Abstraction layer

An abstraction layer is a way of hiding the implementation details of a particular set of functionality...

 using the southbound interface of the higher level component(s). In architectural

Computer architecture

In computer science and engineering, computer architecture is the practical art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals and the formal modelling of those systems....

 overview 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

These terms are generic in the sense that they are uniformly used over all layers of a computer application, i.e. independent of the fact that the computer system is about hardware

Hardware

Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....

, GUI

Gui

Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...

, middleware

Middleware

Middleware is computer software that connects software components or people and their applications. The software consists of a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact...

 etc.

A northbound interface is typically an output

Output

Output is the term denoting either an exit or changes which exit a system and which activate/modify a process. It is an abstract concept, used in the modeling, system design and system exploitation.-In control theory:...

-only interface (as opposed to one that accepts user input) found in carrier-grade network

Carrier Grade Open Framework

Carrier grade open framework is a hardware-independent architecture for the telecommunications industry. CGOF is based on a collection of open standards and is offered as a basis for new solution development...

 and telecommunications network

Telecommunications network

A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections...

 elements. The languages

Programming language

A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....

 or protocols commonly used include SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol

Simple Network Management Protocol is an "Internet-standard protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Devices that typically support SNMP include routers, switches, servers, workstations, printers, modem racks, and more." It is used mostly in network management systems to monitor...

 and TL1. For example, a device that is capable of sending out syslog

Syslog

Syslog is a standard for computer data logging. It allows separation of the software that generates messages from the system that stores them and the software that reports and analyzes them...

 messages but is not configurable by the user is said to implement a northbound interface. Other examples include SMASH

Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware

The Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware is a suite of specifications that deliver industry standard protocols to increase productivity of the management of a data center....

, IPMI, WSMAN SOAP

SOAP

SOAP, originally defined as Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol specification for exchanging structured information in the implementation of Web Services in computer networks...

etc.