XII Launches API Task Force

(7 June 2012) -- XII is pleased to announce the launch of the XBRL International API Task Force (API-TF), which has been tasked by the XBRL International Standards Board to oversee the development and delivery of XBRL APIs as identified under the “Preserve Promote Participate” strategy initiative.

An application programming interface (API) enables software applications to connect to and interact with other technologies. By standardizing the APIs created for XBRL through the use of API signatures, XII hopes to provide more choice, consistency, and interoperability in the software and tools used for XBRL-based projects.

Standardizing how XBRL interfaces with other technologies offers the following benefits:

• Provides software developers with a familiar point of entry into XBRL
• Delivers useful learning tools for developers wishing to incorporate XBRL
• Encourages open source implementations of XBRL API signatures

“This effort is critical to making XBRL easier to use for software developers and vendors, as well the open source development community,” said Conor O’Kelly, chair of the XII Standards Board. “We appreciate the contribution of our volunteers in their support of our goals to encourage adoption and prepare the XBRL Specification for future opportunities.”

The API Task Force will define a common set of capabilities that XBRL APIs will support, including implementation-independent API signatures and supporting materials. The Task Force will incorporate the XBRL Abstract Model currently under development by XBRL International.