Core Concepts

Terminology

API Key (clientId, consumerKey)

The app-level credential pair used to authenticate your integration and sign requests to the SnapTrade API. Aliases: client credentials, app credentials

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

SnapTrade User (userId, userSecret)

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