--- title: Introduction to New Relic APIs source: https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/intro-apis/introduction-new-relic-apis --- New Relic offers a variety of APIs and SDKs you can use to: - Send data to New Relic. - Retrieve data from New Relic. - View and configure settings. Looking for API keys? See [API keys](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/intro-apis/new-relic-api-keys). ## APIs for data ingest [#data-type-apis] Our data ingest APIs are some of our [many solutions for reporting data](https://newrelic.com/instant-observability). Our APIs can be used directly, but they're also the underlying ingest route for many of our data-reporting tools. If you're just getting started reporting data to New Relic, we recommend starting at [Install New Relic](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/new-relic-solutions/new-relic-one/install-configure/install-new-relic). | API type | Description | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | [Metric API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/introduction-new-relic-metric-api) | Send [dimensional metrics](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/data-apis/understand-data/new-relic-data-types/#dimensional-metrics) to New Relic from any source (including other telemetry monitoring services). | | [Event API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/telemetry-data-platform/ingest-apis/introduction-event-api) | Send custom [event data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/data-apis/understand-data/new-relic-data-types/#events-new-relic) to New Relic without the use of an agent or integration. | | [Log API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/enable-new-relic-logs-http-input) | Send [log data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/data-apis/understand-data/new-relic-data-types/#log-data) to New Relic. | | [Trace API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apm/distributed-tracing/trace-api/introduction-new-relic-trace-api) | Send [distributed tracing data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/data-apis/understand-data/new-relic-data-types/#trace-data) (`Span` data) to New Relic without the use of an agent or integration. | ## NerdGraph (GraphQL) [#graphql] [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/graphql-api/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-graphql-api) is the API we recommend for querying New Relic data, querying account information, and making a range of feature configurations. To learn what you can do, check out [the NerdGraph tutorials](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph/#tutorials). NerdGraph is our newest API and is our attempt to bring together in one place some of our older APIs. ## REST API [#rest-api] Our [REST V2 API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/rest-api-v2) is our older API for querying and configuration, which [NerdGraph](#graphql) is in the process of replacing. We are doing minimal ongoing work on the REST API. Your first choice should be to use NerdGraph because that will be where we are focusing our attention and adding features going forward. ## APIs by feature [#product-apis] New Relic tools and features, like APM, infrastructure monitoring, browser monitoring, and alerts, are often used together, and sometimes can overlap in functionality. This is why multiple APIs may be relevant to each area. Some API functionality will depend on your [access to features and data](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/accounts/accounts-billing/general-account-settings/factors-affecting-access-features-data). **Alerts** See [Manage alerts with NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/examples/nerdgraph-api-alerts-policies). **APM** API resources for application monitoring include: | Resource | Details | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Query and configure APM | See [NerdGraph APM docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/examples/apm-config-nerdgraph) | | Agent APIs | Every APM language agent has an API that lets you customize the agent's default behavior, including reporting custom data. APM agent APIs include: - [Go agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/go-agent/get-started/instrument-go-transactions) - [Java agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/java-agent/api-guides/guide-using-java-agent-api) - [.NET agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/net-agent/api-guides/guide-using-net-agent-api) - [Node.js agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/nodejs-agent/api-guides/guide-using-nodejs-agent-api) - [PHP agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/php-agent/php-agent-api) - [Python agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/python-agent/api/python-agent-api-guide) - [Ruby agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/agents/ruby-agent/api-guides/guide-using-ruby-agent-api) | | REST API | NerdGraph is recommended over the REST API ([learn more](#graphql)). See the [REST API docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/rest-api-v2/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-rest-api-v2). | **Browser monitoring** Browser monitoring-related API resources include: | Resource | Details | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Browser agent API | Use the [browser agent API](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/guides/guide-using-browser-spa-apis) for tasks such as: - [Report custom end user data to browser monitoring](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/guides/guide-using-browser-spa-apis). - Monitor asynchronous browser activity using [SPA API calls](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/guides/guide-using-browser-spa-apis#spa-api). - [Insert custom data into New Relic dashboards](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/insights/insights-data-sources/custom-data/insert-data-via-new-relic-browser) . - [Manage source maps](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/browser/new-relic-browser/browser-pro-features/push-source-maps-api). | | Query | To query your data and configure various New Relic features, use [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph). | | REST API | NerdGraph is recommended over the REST API ([learn more](#graphql)). See the [REST API docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/rest-api-v2/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-rest-api-v2). | **Infrastructure monitoring** Infrastructure monitoring-related API resources include: | Resource | Details | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Query your data | To query your data, use [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph). | | Make your own integration | To make your own custom integrations for reporting data to New Relic infrastructure monitoring, use the [Flex integration](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/infrastructure/host-integrations/host-integrations-list/flex-integration-tool-build-your-own-integration). | | Configurations | You can use [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/graphql-api/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-graphql-api) to query and manage your [cloud integrations](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/graphql-api/tutorials/access-your-cloud-integrations-new-relic-graphql-api-explorer), set up alerting, and more. | **Logs** For querying your data and managing your logging, see the [NerdGraph docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph). **Mobile monitoring** The mobile monitoring-related API resources include: | Resource | Details | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Mobile agent APIs | Our mobile SDK allows you to custom instrument your own code and send events to New Relic. See [Mobile SDK guide](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/mobile-monitoring/new-relic-mobile/mobile-sdk/mobile-sdk-api-guide) to get started. | | Query your data | To query your data, use [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph). | | REST API | NerdGraph is recommended over the REST API ([learn more](#graphql)). See the [REST API docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/rest-api-v2/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-rest-api-v2). | **Synthetic monitoring** Synthetic monitoring-related API resources include: | Resource | Details | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Query your data | To query your data, use [NerdGraph](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/get-started/introduction-new-relic-nerdgraph). | | Add and configure monitors | See [NerdGraph synthetics docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/nerdgraph/examples/nerdgraph-synthetics-tutorial). | | REST API | NerdGraph is recommended over the REST API ([learn more](#graphql)). See the [REST API docs](https://docs.newrelic.com/docs/apis/rest-api-v2/getting-started/introduction-new-relic-rest-api-v2). |