Northbound interface

In computer networking and computer architecture, a northbound interface of a component is an interface that allows the component to communicate with a higher level component, using the latter component's southbound interface. The northbound interface conceptualizes the lower level details (e.g., data or functions) used by, or in, the component, allowing the component to interface with higher level layers.

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.

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