> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.flexmoney.uk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.flexmoney.uk/documentation/untitled-2/api.md).

# API

In building applications, an API (application programming interface) simplifies programming by abstracting the underlying implementation and only exposing objects or actions the developer needs. While a graphical interface for an email client might provide a user with a button that performs all the steps for fetching and highlighting new emails, an API for file input/output might give the developer a function that copies a file from one location to another without requiring that the developer understand the file system operations occurring behind the scenes.

Xano uses a REST API, REST is an acronym for **RE**presentational **S**tate **T**ransfer. REST offers a more lightweight method, using URLs in most cases to receive or send information. REST uses four different HTTP 1.1 verbs (GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE) to perform tasks.

Xano gives you a [Jumpstart](/documentation/untitled-2/getting-started/jumpstart.md) with your APIs by creating the CRUD operations for your initial database tables. This gives you a valuable head start in creating your application.

These API endpoints are put together in a group so they are easy to find and organize.

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-M8kpm4UfBP4V0JC-SZw%2F-M8rFoyA-6m3PdDXZ3cc%2Fapigroups.png?alt=media\&token=fd9b0a70-7d01-4d6b-947e-194ec310aeef)

From this page you can add additional API groups.

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-M8kpm4UfBP4V0JC-SZw%2F-M8rKRhytYGfN5Am5vOb%2FAddapigroup.png?alt=media\&token=ae6143a9-e0b6-44c1-87ff-9186e272542e)

View and explore an API group.

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-MJcSIrs36sS4EzJV3Dk%2F-MJcTEFCMi7mwqWEnOC2%2FApi.png?alt=media\&token=8aff6530-e572-4d27-a6d1-635fb05566ac)

API Group & Endpoints

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-MKs7qTkgN7JlTM7bMz-%2F-MKs8_AFKGUfxV5VNSn-%2Fedit_API_endpoint1.png?alt=media\&token=f109a8e4-62b2-4a3b-9bc9-be25977adf61)

Anatomy of an API Endpoint

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-MKs9XF-gYCdSQK5S1b6%2F-MKvD-6jhHhKZ8pv28j-%2FManipulate%20Function%20Stack.png?alt=media\&token=fc614290-72f6-406f-b209-57d2f7df45fc)

Data Manipulation

View the [Swagger](https://swagger.io/) documentation.

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-M8kpm4UfBP4V0JC-SZw%2F-M8rLMwfmfoBXc99Wqcs%2Fswagger.png?alt=media\&token=2dbaf6f3-560e-430a-91da-cf9a0352a1b7)

Automated SWAGGER API documentation

Add a new API Endpoint. 1. CRUD Database Operations: Create, Read, Update, Delete. 2. Start from scratch: create a custom endpoint. 3. Authentication: Authentication based queries, for example: "auth/signup" is used to signup and retrieve an authentication token.

![](https://gblobscdn.gitbook.com/assets%2F-M8Si5XvG2QHSLi9JcVY%2F-M8kpm4UfBP4V0JC-SZw%2F-M8vRIM5KW-_6dxtn1bq%2FaddAPI.png?alt=media\&token=172cf2f6-fc6a-4772-bf0f-f31a56ab5508)

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