Match each common API or data term to its most accurate meaning.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Defined software interface used for communication
Structured data format
Secure transport for the communication
Credential-like value used to help control access
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that candidates often confuse specific API styles (REST, SOAP) or data formats (XML, YAML) with the general concept of an API. Remember that an API is the overarching interface; REST, SOAP, gRPC are specific types, and XML/YAML are data representation formats.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
API: Defined software interface used for communication
API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined set of rules that allows software components to communicate, matching 'Defined software interface used for communication.' JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data-interchange format with key-value pairs, matching 'Structured data format.' HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts HTTP traffic using TLS/SSL, providing secure transport, matching 'Secure transport for the communication.' Token is a unique string used for authentication and authorization, matching 'Credential-like value used to help control access.'
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
API: Defined software interface used for communication
Why this is correct
An API, or Application Programming Interface, is a defined software interface that specifies the set of allowed requests, data formats, and protocols for communication between components. It enables different applications or services to interact consistently, acting as a contract that decouples the implementation from the caller.
JSON: Structured data format
Why this is correct
JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, is a structured data format that represents data as key-value pairs and arrays, making it lightweight and human-readable. It is widely used in APIs for request and response payloads because it is language-independent, easy to parse, and maps naturally to common programming data structures.
HTTPS: Secure transport for the communication
Why this is correct
HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is a secure transport for communication that combines HTTP with TLS/SSL encryption. It ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data exchanged between a client and a server, protecting against eavesdropping, tampering, and impersonation during API transactions.
Token: Credential-like value used to help control access
Why this is correct
A token is a credential-like value, often a random or signed string, that an API client presents instead of raw credentials. It supports access control by allowing the server to verify identity or authorization scope without re-authenticating each request, as in OAuth 2.0 or JWT-based systems.
Go deeper
Learn chapter
Troubleshoot: NAT Not Translating Traffic
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the foundational communication protocol used to transfer web pages and other data between a web browser and a web server over the internet.
Key term
HTTP
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the set of rules web browsers and servers use to communicate and transfer web pages over the internet.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.