# Global Data API System
The Global Data API allows external programmatic access to the full functionality of the Global Data suite of validation, verification and search functions.

You will need to contact Global Data to obtain an API account and access to the API system. Once you have an account you will be able to access the API web interface and create API Keys for programmatic access.

## The GDAPI portal

The Global Data API comes in two parts: the API itself, which your systems call, and the GDAPI portal at [https://gdapi.globaldata.net.au](https://gdapi.globaldata.net.au), which is the web interface where you manage your account. This documentation site is public and does not require a login; the portal does.

The portal is where you:

- **Create and manage API keys.** Each key is tied to either the sandbox or the live environment, and can be restricted to particular IP addresses or subnets. Keys can be rotated or revoked at any time.
- **Manage users.** Add colleagues to your account, control what each of them can do, and remove them when they leave.
- **Review activity.** The audit log records what was called, when, by which key and user, and with what result, so you can trace any request your integration made.
- **Track usage and billing.** See how many calls each function has consumed, download invoices, and keep your billing details current.
- **Download customer-only material.** Some resources, such as the DVS sample identity documents used for sandbox testing, are provided in the portal rather than on this site.

You do not need the portal to make API calls. Once you have a key, everything your integration needs is in the API itself and in this documentation. Think of the portal as the place you go to set things up, and to look into what happened afterwards.

![Global Data](/docs/files/globaldata.png)