What Is xAPI (Experience API / Tin Can API)?

xAPI (Experience API), also known as Tin Can API, is a modern eLearning specification developed by ADL (Advanced Distributed Learning) as the successor to SCORM. While SCORM is limited to tracking learning activities that occur within a web browser inside an LMS, xAPI captures learning experiences from virtually any source — including mobile applications, virtual reality simulations, on-the-job activities observed by supervisors, social learning interactions, podcast consumption, and even in-person workshops. xAPI uses a flexible statement format based on simple Actor-Verb-Object triples, such as 'Jane completed Fire Safety Module' or 'Ahmed scored 92% on Compliance Assessment,' which are stored in a centralized Learning Record Store (LRS). This architecture decouples learning data from any single platform, enabling organizations to aggregate and analyze learning activity across their entire ecosystem. xAPI enables true blended learning measurement by unifying data from formal courses, informal learning, and experiential activities into a single analytics view. Platforms like Arythmatic support xAPI alongside SCORM, giving organizations both backward compatibility with existing content and forward-looking analytics capabilities.