Stable terminology

Approximated glossary

Definitions used across product pages, API documentation, and machine-readable resources. Each term links to a fuller primary source where available.

Published and last reviewed by Approximated.

API key
A credential sent in the api-key request header. It authenticates customer API operations and scopes them to the proxy cluster attached to that key. API-key documentation.
Custom domain
A web domain supplied for use with an application, commonly by that application's user. It becomes routable through Approximated after a matching virtual host is configured and DNS is pointed to the cluster.
DNS
The Domain Name System. A custom domain must have DNS records that direct it to an Approximated proxy cluster. The docs describe A-record and CNAME approaches. DNS concepts.
Edge Verify
Rules that monitor or enforce browser verification at the network edge for selected paths and POST, PUT, PATCH, or DELETE requests. A successful challenge is browser/client verification, not proof of a person's identity. Edge Verify documentation.
Incoming address
The custom-domain address a virtual host accepts. It is matched against an incoming request before that request is sent to the configured target address.
Proxy cluster
A group of machines that accepts configured web traffic, terminates TLS, and relays requests and responses between a custom domain and its target application. Proxy-cluster documentation.
Target address
The application or origin address to which a virtual host sends a matching request. It is distinct from the incoming address presented by the custom domain.
TLS certificate
A certificate used to secure a connection for a configured domain. Approximated proxy clusters provision, monitor, and renew these certificates. Product pages may also use the older term “SSL certificate.”
Virtual host
The core configuration object that maps an incoming address to a target address and controls related routing behavior. Virtual hosts are tied to a proxy cluster by the API key used to create them. Virtual Hosts API.
Webhook
An HTTP GET or POST callback sent to a URL you control when a configured event occurs. Webhook events distinguish configuration events from monitor-status changes. Webhook documentation.