.. _glossary:

CDA Glossary
============

General Terms
-------------
**API**:
    An Application Programming Interface (API) is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software
    applications to communicate with each other.

**Client**:
    A client is a computer program or device that requests services or resources from a server.

**Server**:
    A server is a computer program or device that provides services or resources to clients.

**URL**:
    A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is a reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network
    and the protocol used to access it.

**URI**:
    A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a string of characters that identifies a resource on the internet.

**Endpoint**:
    An endpoint is a specific URL or URI that is part of a web service or API.

**Request**:
    A request is a message sent from a client to a server, typically asking for some action to be performed.


CDA Glossary Terms
------------------

**CWMS**: 
    The Corps Water Management System (CWMS) is a comprehensive water management system used by the U.S. Army Corps
    of Engineers.

**Data API**:
    A Data API is an Application Programming Interface that allows users to access and manipulate data from a database
    or other data source.

**CDA**:
    The CWMS Data API (CDA) is an API that provides access to data from the Corps Water Management System.

**Authentication**:
    Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or system.

**Authorization**:
    Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to resources based on the identity of the user or system.

**Key**:
    A key is a unique identifier used for authentication and authorization purposes.

**Base URL**:
    The base URL is the starting point for a URL or URI, typically indicating the domain or server where the resource
    is located.

**Client Library**:
    A client library is a set of pre-written code that simplifies the process of interacting with an API or service.

**Maintainer**:
    A maintainer is a person or organization responsible for maintaining and updating a software library or project.

**Contributor**:
    A contributor is a person who contributes code, documentation, or other resources to a software project.

**GitHub**:
    GitHub is a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on software development projects using the Git version
    control system.


Hydrologic Terms
----------------

**Reservoir**: 
    A reservoir is a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply.

**Hydrology**: 
    Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets.

**Inflow**: 
    Inflow refers to the water entering a reservoir or other body of water.

**Outflow**: 
    Outflow is the water that exits a reservoir or other body of water.

**Flood Control**: 
    Flood control involves the management of water resources to prevent or reduce the risk of flooding.

**Water Quality**: 
    Water quality refers to the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its
    suitability for a particular purpose.

**Watershed**: 
    A watershed is an area of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.

**Discharge**: 
    Discharge is the volume of water that flows through a river or stream over a given period of time.

**Sedimentation**: 
    Sedimentation is the process of settling or being deposited as sediment.

**Evaporation**: 
    Evaporation is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.

**Precipitation**: 
    Precipitation is any form of water - liquid or solid - falling from the sky, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

**Runoff**: 
    Runoff is the part of precipitation that flows over the land surface towards streams, rivers, or other bodies of
    water.

**Water Conservation**: 
    Water conservation involves the careful use and management of water resources to ensure their sustainability.

**Drought**: 
    A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water.

**Hydroelectric Power**: 
    Hydroelectric power is electricity generated by the energy of moving water.

**Aquifer**: 
    An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock or materials from which groundwater can be extracted.

**Riparian**: 
    Riparian refers to the interface between land and a river or stream.

**Erosion**: 
    Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by wind, water flow, and other
    natural processes.

**Levee**: 
    A levee is an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.

**Dam**: 
    A dam is a barrier constructed to hold back water and raise its level, forming a reservoir used to generate
    electricity or as a water supply.

**Water Table**: 
    The water table is the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

**Groundwater**: 
    Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock
    formations.

**Surface Water**: 
    Surface water is water that collects on the surface of the ground, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.