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

# API Start Node

> Define how an incoming HTTP request enters and triggers a workflow in DotPortion.

# API Start Node

The **API Start Node** is the **entry point** of every workflow in DotPortion.

It defines **how an external HTTP request triggers your workflow**, similar to how routes work in traditional backend frameworks like Express, FastAPI, or Rails.

Every workflow must start with **exactly one API Start Node**.

***

## What the API Start Node Does

The API Start Node is responsible for:

* Defining the **HTTP method** your API accepts
* Defining the **URL path** for the endpoint
* Receiving incoming request data:
  * Request body
  * Query parameters
  * Path parameters
  * Headers
* Triggering workflow execution

Once a request matches the configured **method + path**, DotPortion begins executing the connected nodes **from top to bottom**.

***

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/dotportion/8GyEV2DkYvmwlU7L/images/nodes/api-start.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=8GyEV2DkYvmwlU7L&q=85&s=9d43d50bca4fc75bbc7dc4cd58335d83" alt="Api Start" width="806" height="898" data-path="images/nodes/api-start.png" />

## Configuration Fields

### Method

The **HTTP method** defines how clients interact with your API.

Supported methods:

* `GET`
* `POST`
* `PUT`
* `PATCH`
* `DELETE`

Choose the method based on what your API does.

**Common usage patterns:**

| Method | Use case              |
| ------ | --------------------- |
| GET    | Fetch data            |
| POST   | Create new data       |
| PUT    | Replace existing data |
| PATCH  | Update partial data   |
| DELETE | Remove data           |

***

### Path

The **Path** defines the URL route where this API is exposed.

This is the **unique identifier** of your endpoint within the project.

#### Example

```text theme={null}
POST /create
```

When deployed, the full API URL becomes:

```
https://api.dotportion.com/api/{tenant-name}/{project-id}/create
```