> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.natural.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# REST API

> Direct HTTP access to the Natural API

The Natural API is a REST API over HTTPS — JSON request and response bodies,
Bearer-token authentication, one base URL: `https://api.natural.co`.

<Note>
  **Most integrations should not start with raw REST.** Want Claude or ChatGPT to send payments for
  you, no code? Use the [MCP server](/guides/platform/mcp). Building an app or service — including a
  Python or TypeScript backend? Use an [SDK](/guides/platform/sdks). Working from a terminal, CI
  job, or command-capable coding-agent harness? Use the [CLI](/guides/platform/cli). Reach for the
  REST API directly only when no SDK covers your language or you need request-level control.
  [Choosing your integration →](/guides/overview/start-here)
</Note>

## When to call the REST API directly

Use the REST API directly when:

* You're on a language with no official SDK — the [SDKs](/guides/platform/sdks)
  cover Python and TypeScript.
* You need request-level control the SDKs don't expose.
* You're exploring or debugging with `curl`.

For most integrations an [SDK](/guides/platform/sdks) or the
[MCP server](/guides/platform/mcp) is faster. The SDKs give typed requests with
automatic retries and pagination; the MCP server's tools go further and absorb
orchestration like wallet resolution and payer-kind detection.

## Making a request

Every request carries an API key in the `Authorization` header:

```bash theme={null}
curl https://api.natural.co/payments \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_ntl_prod_..."
```

Requests and responses follow a JSON:API structure — see
[About the API](/api-reference/about). Authenticate with
[API keys](/api-reference/authentication); the same key works across the SDKs,
the CLI, and MCP fallback paths.

## Reference

The full endpoint reference is auto-generated from the OpenAPI spec — see
[API Reference](/api-reference). The raw spec, for code generation and tooling,
is at [`openapi.json`](https://docs.natural.com/api-reference/openapi.json).

## Related

* [SDKs](/guides/platform/sdks) — Python and TypeScript client libraries
* [MCP](/guides/platform/mcp) — Connect Claude, Cursor, and other AI hosts to Natural
* [CLI](/guides/platform/cli) — For terminal and CI use
* [Authentication](/api-reference/authentication) — API keys: format, scopes, security