---
schema_version: "1"
id: 01d192d4bd65d17ce0b8052c03da6795cb7c74e14051deeba7f31f35e6643064
title: Named Credentials
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/named_credentials_about.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.named_credentials_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 236d1b41b405e51e733c9193fe227c92906465296192d5716abe17f03fba1621
description: Intended to secure and simplify authenticated API callouts to external systems, a named credential specifies the URL of a callout endpoint and its required authentication parameters in one definition. To streamline your Apex code and simplify the setup of authenticated callouts, specify a named credential as the callout endpoint.
products:
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Named Credentials

Intended to secure and simplify authenticated API callouts to external systems, a named credential specifies the URL of a callout endpoint and its required authentication parameters in one definition. To streamline your Apex code and simplify the setup of authenticated callouts, specify a named credential as the callout endpoint.

### Required Editions

<table class="slds-table slds-table_bordered slds-max-medium-table_stacked slds-m-bottom_small edition"><colgroup><col></colgroup><tbody><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: both Salesforce Classic (not available in all orgs) and Lightning Experience</td></tr><tr class=""><td class="slds-cell-wrap" style="vertical-align:top;">Available in: all editions</td></tr></tbody></table>

![Important](https://sf-zdocs-cdn-prod.zoominsoftware.com/tdta-xcloud-security-264-0-0-production-enus/8cecd769-ab2d-4e07-addf-c4f2927925e1/images/icon_important.png)

Important In Winter ’23, Salesforce introduced an improved named credential that’s extensible, customizable, and more secure. We strongly recommend that you use this preferred credential instead of legacy named credentials, which are no longer updated or enhanced. For information on extensible, customizable named credentials, see [Named Credentials Schema](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_parts_of_nc.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "Named credentials and external credentials simplify and enable greater reuse of setup for secure and authenticated callouts.").

- **[Get Started with Named Credentials](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_get_started.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Understand the basics of named credentials, including the named credential schema and the authentication protocols that Salesforce supports.
- **[Named Credential Example Configurations](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_example_configurations.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Explore scenarios for configuring named credentials to make callouts to various external systems. The examples cover the entire named credential configuration for different authentication protocols and principal types.
- **[Create Named Credentials and External Credentials](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_named_creds_and_ext_creds.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    To simplify the setup of authenticated callouts, create an external credential to specify an authentication protocol and then specify a named credential as the callout endpoint. Add custom headers to cover more use cases and security requirements. Use a permission set or profile to grant access so that users can make authenticated callouts. You can create and configure named credentials programmatically or through the Salesforce UI.
- **[Resources for Named Credentials](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_resources.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Learn about considerations, troubleshooting tips, and more so that named credentials work the way you intend.

#### See Also

- [_Named Credentials Developer Guide_: Get Started with Named Credentials](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/named-credentials/guide/get-started.html)
- [_Named Credentials Developer Guide_: Named Credential API Links](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/named-credentials/references/named-credentials-reference/nc-api-links.html)
- [_Apex Developer Guide_: Invoking Callouts Using Apex](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_callouts.htm)
- [_Apex Developer Guide_: Named Credentials as Callout Endpoints](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_callouts_named_credentials.htm)