# API Overview

### Why use the API?

* **Integrate with your systems** – Connect Shapemaker directly to your tools and platforms.
* **Automate processes** – Speed up workflows by eliminating manual steps.
* **Import & export data** – Bring external data into Shapemaker, or push your Shapemaker data into other systems.

### Getting started

Our full API reference is available here: [Shapemaker API Docs](https://api.shapemaker.io/docs).\
You’ll find details on authentication, available endpoints, and examples of common requests.

If you’re new to the API, start with:

1. **Authentication** – Learn how to authenticate requests using your API key.
2. **Core endpoints** – Explore the key resources available through the API.
3. **Examples** – Try out ready-made examples to get up and running quickly.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.shapemaker.io/technical-details/api-overview.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.