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.