OpenRouter is a service for routing AI API requests to many different model providers. Instead of integrating every provider separately, an app can use one OpenAI-compatible API shape and choose models by name.
In practice
This is useful for experimentation, model switching, and bring-your-own-key tools. A user can fund one OpenRouter account, create a key, and select from available hosted models.
What to watch
OpenRouter is still a third-party layer. Check model availability, pricing, privacy terms, and provider routing before using it for sensitive production data.