xAPI

xAPI is a data exchange standard, also known as: eXperience API.

The xAPI documentation is managed by IEEE, and was last updated in 2023.

Note that there is an open-source version of the IEEE xAPI standard, which does not require payment to access.

The Experience API (xAPI), sometimes called Tin Can API, is a modern elearning specification designed to track a wide range of learning experiences, beyond traditional courses.

Unlike SCORM, which focuses on LMS-centric course completion, xAPI can record virtually any learning activity, whether it happens online, offline, in simulations, or even in real-world scenarios.

It can also record job performance, eg. John closed a case, or Jenny sold a product - allowing data analysts to begin correlating learning with performance.

At its core, xAPI captures learning as “statements” in the format of “Actor Verb Object” (e.g., “John completed the safety checklist” or “Mary practiced CPR on the dummy”). These statements are sent to a Learning Record Store (LRS), which acts as a central repository for all learning data.

xAPI’s flexibility allows for richer analytics, personalized learning paths, and a comprehensive view of an individual’s development across various platforms and activities.

Here’s a simple xAPI statement, describing that John practiced CPR on a dummy on 15th August 2025.

{
  "actor": {
    "mbox": "mailto:john@example.com",
    "name": "John Smith"
  },
  "verb": {
    "id": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/verbs/practiced",
    "display": {
      "en-US": "practiced"
    }
  },
  "object": {
    "id": "http://example.com/activities/cpr-dummy-practice",
    "definition": {
      "name": {
        "en-US": "CPR Practice on Dummy"
      },
      "description": {
        "en-US": "Practiced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques on a training dummy."
      },
      "type": "http://adlnet.gov/expapi/activities/simulation"
    }
  },
  "timestamp": "2025-08-15T10:00:00Z"
}