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| title: n8n public REST API Documentation and Guides |
| description: Access n8n public REST API documentation and guides. Find comprehensive resources to programmatically perform tasks with the public API instead of the GUI. |
| contentType: overview |
| search: |
| boost: 5 |
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| # n8n public REST API |
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| /// info | Feature availability |
| The n8n API isn't available during the free trial. Please upgrade to access this feature. |
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| Using n8n's public [API](/glossary.md#api), you can programmatically perform many of the same tasks as you can in the GUI. This section introduces n8n's REST API, including: |
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| * How to [authenticate](/api/authentication.md) |
| * [Paginating](/api/pagination.md) results |
| * Using the [built-in API playground](/api/using-api-playground.md) (self-hosted n8n only) |
| * [Endpoint reference](/api/api-reference.md) |
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| n8n provides an [n8n API node](/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.n8n.md) to access the API in your workflows. |
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| ## Learn about REST APIs |
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| The API documentation assumes you are familiar with REST APIs. If you're not, these resources may be helpful: |
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| * [KnowledgeOwl's guide to working with APIs](https://support.knowledgeowl.com/help/working-with-apis){:target=_blank .external-link}: a basic introduction, including examples of how to call REST APIs. |
| * [IBM Cloud Learn Hub - What is an Application Programming Interface (API)](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/api){:target=_blank .external-link}: this gives a general, but technical, introduction to APIs. |
| * [IBM Cloud Learn Hub - What is a REST API?](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/rest-apis){:target=_blank .external-link}: more detailed information about REST APIs. |
| * [MDN web docs - An overview of HTTP](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/Overview){:target=_blank .external-link}: REST APIs work over HTTP and use HTTP verbs, or methods, to specify the action to perform. |
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| /// tip | Use the API playground (self-hosted n8n only) |
| Trying out the API in the [playground](/api/using-api-playground.md) can help you understand how APIs work. If you're worried about changing live data, consider setting up a test workflow, or test n8n instance, to explore safely. |
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