# Overview

The Transact API provides an interface for applications to interact with the Transact platform on behalf
of adviser firms, adviser networks, and discretionary investment managers that use Transact for managing their clients' financial
portfolios.

## Our priority

The chief goal of the Transact API is to provide an efficient, secure, and powerful way for software providers to integrate
Transact seamlessly into their workflows. In pursuit of this the Transact API follows the latest industry standards for
secure APIs, including:

- requiring software providers to register with Transact prior to obtaining API access
- limiting access credentials via a set of fine grained permissions
- utilising an authorisation flow that requires the user to explicitly consent to granting specific permissions
- mandating re-authorisation on a regular basis to ensure the user remains informed.

## Our functionality

The Transact API already offers a wide range of functionality. More is planned and will be introduced over time.

With the Transact API, you can implement workflows such as:

- streamlined account opening via prepopulation of illustrations
- retrieving end-of-day valuations across multiple portfolios
- reconciling remuneration to expectations.

See our Guides and the [API Reference](/api) for more details.

## Our technology

The Transact API is designed using the
[REST](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representational_State_Transfer) API paradigm.

Our API:

- uses resource-oriented URLs (e.g. `/advisers/123456789`, not `/getAdviser?id=123456789`)
- uses standard HTTP response codes (e.g. a `404` indicates a nonexistent resource)
- uses standard HTTP verbs (`GET`, `POST`, `DELETE`, etc.)
- uses OAuth 2.0 HTTP authentication (see [Authorisation](authorisation.mdx))
- returns JSON-encoded responses.

## Our service

Our Transact API team provide reliable, dedicated support to ensure a high-quality experience for you and our mutual customers. Our service includes:

- engagement with you to understand your use-cases and your business
- hands-on help with initial setup, testing and production issue resolution
- proactive communication with you, to let you know about enhancements or new API versions requiring action
- ongoing technical assistance - simply [Contact Us](../contact-us.mdx).

## What's next

The remainder of this section will take you through the entire process of registering, authenticating, and
connecting with the Transact API.