API-FIRST-EDI

EDI viewed from the API side — inverse of the classic approach where EDI handles its formats internally.

Definition

Philosophy: internal developers consume a canonical API (often OpenAPI 3.x), not an EDI format. The server generates EDIFACT, X12, UBL on demand based on the target partner. Simplifies app development and enables standard API tooling (Postman, Insomnia, OAS-codegen).

Origin

Trend theorised by Stedi, Apideck, Postman around 2019.

Example in context

A product team creating POs via POST /api/v1/orders in JSON; the backend handles the X12 850 translation for Walmart.

Related terms

• OpenAPI EDI — API spec standard.