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# Building Channels Quick Start

This advanced, quick-start tutorial is for [BigCommerce partners](https://www.bigcommerce.com/partners/) wishing to market their solution within [Channel Manager's](/developer/docs/integrations/channels#resources) **Create Channel** flow. For an introduction to channels on BigCommerce, see [Channels Overview](/developer/docs/integrations/channels).

### Prerequisites

* Experience [building apps](/developer/docs/integrations/getting-started)
* Familiarity with [Channels Toolkit](/developer/docs/integrations/channels)

## Create a channel

Apps selected as solutions within the **Create Channel** flow must generate a basic channel. This setup automatically links the app to the newly created channel, allowing it to appear in the [Channel Manager](/developer/docs/integrations/channels) as managing a specific channel. It also enhances the app's native look and feel for merchants. To modify UI sections, use the [Create a channel menu](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/channels/menus/create-channel-menus) endpoint.

![Channel Manager](/_fern-img/128409c88b6453e9572de372f4a17e465e18bf186da4e018e2e8feb8992dab83.webp)

To [create a channel](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/channels/create-channel), send a `POST` request to `/v3/channels`.

**`Example request: Create a channel`**

```http title="Example request: Create a channel" showLineNumbers={false}
POST https://api.bigcommerce.com/stores/{{STORE_HASH}}/v3/channels
X-Auth-Token: {{ACCESS_TOKEN}}
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json

{
  "name": "Solution Name",
  "type": "storefront",
  "platform": "drupal",
  "external_id": "",
  "is_enabled": true,
  "is_listable_from_ui": true,
  "is_visible": true
}
```

> **Note**
>
> * For a list of accepted `type` and `platform` values, see [Channels API Reference](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/channels#platform).
> * For instructions on finding your app's ID, see [Find and App's ID](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/guide/id).

## Create a channel with navigation

We recommend that apps also create navigation sections to better integrate the app's interface within the BigCommerce control panel.

![Channel Settings Overview Tab](/_fern-img/0c1acff8f8e542af28afef893a28d3799d01c77b4265e7f3a63ccc8ed7799a30.webp)

To create a channel with navigation, use the [Channel Menus API](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/channels/menus/create-channel-menus) after creating a channel record.

**`Example request: Create channel menus`**

```http title="Example request: Create channel menus" showLineNumbers={false}
POST https://api.bigcommerce.com/stores/{{STORE_HASH}}/v3/channels/{{CHANNEL_ID}}/channel-menus
X-Auth-Token: {{ACCESS_TOKEN}}
Content-Type: application/json
Accept: application/json

{
    "bigcommerce_protected_app_sections": [
      "domains",
      "currencies",
      "storefront_settings"
    ],
    "custom_app_sections": [
      {
        "title": "Overview",
        "query_path": "overview"
      }
    ]  
}
```

## Related resources

### Articles

* [Channels Overview](/developer/docs/integrations/channels)
* [Find an App's ID](/developer/docs/integrations/apps/guide/id)
* [Build a Storefront Channel](/developer/docs/integrations/channels/guide/building-storefront-channels)

### Endpoints

* [Channels API Reference](/developer/api-reference/rest/admin/management/channels)