---
title: Get started - API · Cloudflare Style Guide
description: The Get started section provides a brief overview of the Cloudflare’s API and lists requirements and tasks users must complete before successfully making their first request.
lastUpdated: 2024-08-13T19:56:56.000Z
source_url:
  html: https://da735954.preview.developers.cloudflare.com/style-guide/api-content-strategy/api-content-types/get-started-api/index.md
  md: https://da735954.preview.developers.cloudflare.com/style-guide/api-content-strategy/api-content-types/get-started-api/
---

## Purpose

The Get started section provides a brief overview of the Cloudflare’s API and lists requirements and tasks users must complete before successfully making their first request.

## Structure

### Required components

**Overview**: High-level explanation of Cloudflare’s API and includes information about our architectural style, schema, and base URL.

**Authentication**: Explains how users can authenticate with the Cloudflare API and how users should or can utilize API tokens, API token templates, and API token permissions.

## Example

**Overview**: Cloudflare's API exposes the entire Cloudflare infrastructure via a standardized programmatic interface. Cloudflare’s API uses `REST` and returns `JSON` responses, and the latest version is `v4`.

**Recommended workflow**:

1. Sign up for a Cloudflare account.
2. Create an API token.
3. (Optional) Use API token templates and token permissions.
4. Make your first request.
