Core Concepts

Terminology

API Keys

API Keys consist of a client ID (clientId) and a consumer key (consumerKey). Aliases: app credentials, integration credentials

Learn more: Getting Started: API Keys, FAQ: API Keys

Client ID

The public key for your SnapTrade API key. In direct API requests, it is sent as the clientId query parameter.

Consumer Key

The secret key for your SnapTrade API key. Use the consumer key when generating request signatures or validating webhook signatures. Aliases: client secret

SnapTrade User

A user record under your API key that represents one of your end users and authorizes access to that user's SnapTrade data. Aliases: connected user record, SnapTrade profile

Learn more: Getting Started: Users, FAQ: Users

Institution

The financial provider a user connects through SnapTrade, such as a broker or exchange. Aliases: broker, brokerage, provider, integration

Learn more: Brokerage Integrations

Connection

An authorized link between a SnapTrade user and one brokerage login that grants data access and optionally trading access. Aliases: brokerage authorization, linked brokerage, authorization

Learn more: Connections, Getting Started: Connections

Connection Portal

The hosted SnapTrade UI flow your user completes to create, repair, or upgrade a connection. Aliases: connect flow, linking flow, auth portal

Learn more: Connection Portal

Disabled Connection

A connection state where brokerage authorization is invalid so fresh data and trading actions are blocked until repaired. Aliases: broken connection, disconnected connection

Learn more: Fix Disabled Connections

Reconnect

A re-authorization flow that repairs an existing disabled connection by sending the user through the Connection Portal again. Aliases: repair flow, re-authorize connection

Learn more: Fix Disabled Connections

Account

A specific brokerage account under a connection that SnapTrade exposes for balances, holdings, activity, and trading. Aliases: portfolio account, trading account, brokerage account

Learn more: Getting Started: Accounts, Account Data

Balance

Cash and buying-power values reported for an account. Aliases: cash balance, account cash

Learn more: Account Data: Balances

Position

A holding of a specific asset in an account, typically represented by quantity and market value. Aliases: holding, asset position

Learn more: Account Data: Positions

Order

A brokerage instruction to buy or sell an instrument, including open, filled, canceled, and rejected states. Aliases: trade order, instruction

Learn more: Account Data: Orders

Transaction

A brokerage-reported account event that records cash or position movement, such as buys, sells, dividends, fees, deposits, or withdrawals. Aliases: activity, account activity, ledger entry

Learn more: Account Data: Activities

Periodic Sync

The process where SnapTrade updates account data from the connected brokerage. Aliases: data refresh, update cycle, sync

Learn more: Syncing and Data Freshness

Manual Refresh

An explicit API-triggered sync request for a connection outside the periodic sync schedule. Aliases: forced sync, on-demand refresh

Learn more: Syncing and Data Freshness

MCP Server

SnapTrade's hosted Model Context Protocol server that lets AI assistants securely read a user's connected brokerage data. Aliases: AI connector, Claude connector, ChatGPT app

Learn more: SnapTrade MCP Server