> This page is for Developer. > For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL. > For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.bigcommerce.com/llms.txt. > For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.bigcommerce.com/_mcp/server. # About Our APIs The BigCommerce suite of APIs empowers you to create apps, automate store processes, and build headless ecommerce solutions. If you're new to building BigCommerce apps, we recommend that you start by exploring the [App Marketplace](https://www.bigcommerce.com/apps/) to get a feel for what's possible. When you're ready to play with our APIs, check out the [API Request Quick Start](/developer/docs/overview/quick-start). ## Available APIs BigCommerce has several APIs that let you manage store data, authenticate customers, make client-side queries for product information, and more. You can download generated OpenAPI specification files for API references in JSON or YAML. For details, see [OpenAPI Specifications](/developer/api-reference/openapi-specifications). ### REST Store Management APIs BigCommerce's Store Management and Payment APIs (for example, the [Catalog API](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/overview)) allow you to manage transactions, modify store data, and act as store administrator. Example use cases include the following: * Add and update products in a store * Update a customer's order and change the order status * Create a coupon * Manage a customer's store account details ### REST Storefront API The [REST Storefront API](/developer/api-reference/rest/storefront/carts) lets you manage customer carts, checkouts, and order information client-side. Example use cases include the following: * Add an item with JavaScript to a shopper's cart from a Stencil storefront * Programmatically retrieve and display information to a customer about their recent order * Update the billing address of a checkout * Clear a customer's current cart ### GraphQL Storefront API BigCommerce's [GraphQL Storefront API](/developer/docs/storefront/guides/graphql-storefront-api) lets you query and mutate products, customers, and carts, then launch a checkout on a headless storefront as well as from a native storefront's frontend. Example use cases include the following: * Add additional product data to a Stencil storefront * Access customer data on the frontend of a site * Manage shopper's carts on a headless storefront * Fetch category and brand details from a store's frontend ### Customer Login API The [Customer Login API](/developer/docs/storefront/guides/customer-authentication/customer-login) lets you programmatically sign customers in to a BigCommerce storefront. Example use cases include the following: * Sign customers in to a BigCommerce store from a third-party account or a headless storefront * Enable login using credentials other than email and password, such as a phone number * Integrate a BigCommerce store with an SSO provider ### Current Customer API BigCommerce's [Current Customer API](/developer/docs/storefront/guides/customer-authentication/current-customer) lets you determine which customer is logged in to a storefront during a session. * Confirm a customer's identity in the browser * Validate a customer's identity to display specific information to them from an external app ## API authentication and context Make BigCommerce API requests in the context of the **storefront**, BigCommerce **API server**, or **app server**. Each of the following APIs listings links to its section of our [Authentication and Example Requests](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#api-accounts) article, which contains the base URL of the API in question. | API or Use Case | Context | | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------- | | [GraphQL Account API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#access-tokens), including [Users](/developer/api-reference/graphql/account/overview) | server | | [GraphQL Admin API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#access-tokens) | server | | [GraphQL Storefront API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#bigcommerce-generated-jwts) | storefront | | [REST Management API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#access-tokens) | server | | [REST Storefront API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#same-origin-cors-authentication) | storefront | | [Customer Login API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#user-generated-jwts) | storefront | | [Current Customer API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#client-id) | storefront | | [Payments API](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#bigcommerce-generated-jwts) | server | | [Apps that host REST Provider APIs (provider apps)](/developer/docs/overview/api-fundamentals/api-accounts#developer-configured-authentication) | server | | Apps hosted in the store control panel (single-click apps) | server | | Single-store frontend scripts | storefront | | Headless storefronts with backend or request proxy | server | | Serverless headless storefronts | storefront, GraphQL-only |