xAPI (Experience API)

xAPI is an e-learning standard that allows tracking and recording any learning experience, both inside and outside a training platform, providing a 360° view of student progress.

• What it is: a standard for recording learning experiences.
• Also known as: Experience API or Tin Can API.
• What it is used for: measuring student actions, decisions, time, results and behavior.
• Requires: xAPI-compatible content and an LRS.
• Main difference with SCORM: xAPI can track learning outside the LMS.

Also known as Experience API or Tin Can API, it allows collecting more flexible and accurate data about student behavior. It records learning experiences inside and outside the LMS using “actor-verb-object” statements.

Unlike SCORM, xAPI is not limited to “passed or failed.” It uses a simple “Actor + Verb + Object” structure (example: John read the technical article) to capture learning moments anywhere, even outside the training platform.

• Omnichannel Learning: Tracks activities in mobile apps, simulations, games and even offline interactions.
• Advanced learning tracking: Allows recording much more than grades or progress, including real-time interaction, specific actions, mistakes made, etc.
• Granular Data: It does not only measure results; it measures student behavior and effort.
• Browser Independence: It does not depend on pop-up windows.

• xAPI-compatible content
• An LRS to store records
• A platform capable of interpreting the data

What is xAPI used for?
xAPI is used to record learning experiences beyond the traditional online course. It allows tracking what the student does, where they learn, how much time they spend, what decisions they make and what results they achieve.

What is an LRS?
An LRS, or Learning Record Store, is the system where xAPI statements are stored. It works as a database of learning experiences that can later be analyzed to generate advanced reports.

Examples of xAPI use cases

• Recording a simulation completed by an employee.
• Measuring decisions made inside a serious game.
• Saving activity performed in a mobile learning app.
• Analyzing learning paths outside the LMS.

xAPI in online training
In online training, xAPI allows obtaining a more complete view of student learning. It not only measures whether a course has been completed, but also how the student interacted with the content and what learning experiences were performed.

Is xAPI better than SCORM?
It is not necessarily “better,” but more modern. If you only need to know whether someone completed a course, SCORM is enough. If you want to understand how your students learn across different environments, xAPI is the solution.

Do I need an external LRS to use xAPI?
Yes, you normally need to connect the data to an LRS to store and analyze it.

Is it difficult to create xAPI content?
Not at all. Popular authoring tools such as Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate allow exporting projects in xAPI format with a single click.

Does xAPI replace SCORM?
No, xAPI is an evolution that extends its capabilities. Both can coexist.

What type of data does xAPI record?
It can record virtually any learning interaction: clicks, attempts, decisions, paths, time, responses and results.

SCORM, LMS, Online Course, Authoring Tools