# What is Metadata API?

> The Metadata API is the Salesforce interface used to retrieve an org's configuration and code and to deploy changes to it. Deployment tools, the Salesforce CLI and change management products use it to move metadata between sandboxes and production, including validate-only deployments that check a change without saving it.

Source: https://synconai360.com/glossary/metadata-api

## Why it matters

Anything that moves configuration between orgs in a repeatable way depends on the Metadata API. Its validation step is the closest thing Salesforce offers to a dry run: it reports the errors a deployment would hit without changing the org.

## In SyncOnAI 360

Every proposal in SyncOnAI 360 is validated against the target org before approval and deployed through the Metadata API. Rollback redeploys the version of each component recorded before the deploy.

## Related terms

- [Salesforce deployment](https://synconai360.com/glossary/salesforce-deployment)
- [Validate-only deployment](https://synconai360.com/glossary/validate-only-deployment)
- [Change set](https://synconai360.com/glossary/change-set)