What is xAPI? What is an LRS?
Experience API (xAPI)
The Experience Application Program Interface (xAPI) is a technology standard that allows systems to store and retrieve data from a wide range of learning activities. The specification has two main components: the data model, and the transport mechanism.
The Data Model
The xAPI data model is a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) representation of a learning event. Although an oversimplification, you can think of an xAPI statement as a sentence including an actor, verb, and object. For example, a simple xAPI statement may include a representation, John Doe (actor) completed (verb) the Computer Science 101 course (object).
The Transport Mechanism
The xAPI data is stored and retrieved via a RESTful web service that allows authorized applications to interact with an LRS.
Some folks call xAPI, “TinCan API”. They are not technically the same thing, but practically, if you hear “TinCan API”, there’s a good chance they’re referring to xAPI.
For a detailed history and explanation, check out our Experience API (xAPI) Overview.
Learning Record Store (LRS)
A Learning Record Store (LRS) is, at minimum, the server-side implementation of the xAPI. This means that content and other systems, like a Learning Management System (LMS), can send and retrieve xAPI data from the LRS using the standardized xAPI data model and transport mechanism. An LRS often includes other services beyond an implementation of xAPI. For a detailed history and explanation, check out our Learning Record Store (LRS) Overview.
Veracity Learning
Our LRS, Veracity Learning, is an xAPI 2.0 conformant LRS with many value-added services for:
- Data manipulation and reporting
- Analytics and dashboards
- Basic content hosting
- Integration with other systems, like LMSs and Business Intelligence tools
We offer the Veracity Learning LRS in both SaaS and On-Premises versions.
Try it!
Veracity Learning is available to try for free, via our shared SaaS environment at https://lrs.io/.
You can also install your own copy of Veracity Learning Lite.
We also have information on the Veracity Learning plans.
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