Storage application programming interface

Systems, methods, apparatus, data structures, and computer-readable media are described which provide techniques for managing data storage. In an implementation, a method includes examining a role map to determine which of a plurality of roles are applicable to a request to interact with at least one of a plurality of items. The request is received via an application programming interface (API) that is available over a network and one or more of the items reference a respective item of data. Access to the at least one item is permitted based on a role definition which describes differing access rights available for the item based on which of the roles is applicable to the request.