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Glite Dictionary
⬆️ Going north 💻 Upward data flow
northbound

northbound

1 5.9
A connection that sends data to a main control system or an external app
  • adjective
  • /ˈnɔrθˌbaʊnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hacia el norte
  • The data stream is northbound, enabling the server to process requests from external applications.

Examples

  • We need to establish a northbound connection to the server.

  • The northbound data stream is critical for the application.

  • The SDN controller exposes a northbound API that application developers use to manage network behavior.

  • Engineers documented the northbound interfaces to show how services request data from the control plane.

  • During integration testing, we verified the northbound protocol for compatibility with third-party apps.

  • We established a northbound connection to facilitate better communication with the upper-level systems.

  • The northbound API allows developers to integrate their apps with higher-level controllers seamlessly.

Synonyms

upline
vsnorthbound
7.9

Toward the source of a river, pipe, or system

is specific to computing interfaces sending data to higher-level systems

Antonyms

southbound
3 2.1

Moving toward the south, often describing vehicles or routes

Surface Forms

northbound positive

Morphology

northbound = north + bound (semi-transparent) = north + bound

The compound structure is visible, but the specialized technical meaning mapping geographic 'north' to 'higher-level' systems is a domain-specific metaphor.

Etymology

Northbound in computing uses the same idea: think of a network map with important systems at the top or 'north', and a northbound link goes 'up' toward them. So a northbound API sends information 'up' to the controller or other top systems.