---
schema_version: "1"
id: 5d190b269c4eb3eb81ce388da2f7f1557c9191b4abd773ad113f1f508e685490
title: Get Started with Named Credentials
collection: admin
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/admin/current/en-us/xcloud/264-0-0/nc_get_started.md
canonical_url: https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_get_started.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5
source_site: help.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: b5f6009e14e447c35638b9bb0be27207f73a6ce32745ee8ab728ac43c513466c
description: Understand the basics of named credentials, including the named credential schema and the authentication protocols that Salesforce supports.
products:
  - Security
release: "264"
---
# Get Started with Named Credentials

Understand the basics of named credentials, including the named credential schema and the authentication protocols that Salesforce supports.

### 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>

- **[What are Named Credentials?](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_basics.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Using HTTP callouts with Apex, you can integrate Salesforce with external systems via SOAP and REST APIs. Named credentials offer a declarative and secure way to store and manage the credentials needed for HTTP callouts so that Salesforce can authenticate with external APIs.
- **[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.
- **[Authentication Protocols for Named Credentials](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_auth_protocols.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    Your connections between Salesforce and external systems use an authentication protocol to confirm secure communication between the two systems. Choose the authentication protocol that matches the configuration of the external system that you connect to. When you do, keep the strengths and considerations of each authentication protocol in mind.
- **[Named Credentials Glossary](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_named_credentials_glossary.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5)**  
    To better understand named credentials, get familiar with these common terms.

#### See Also

- [Named Credentials](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.named_credentials_about.htm&release=264.0.0&type=5 "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.")
- [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.")