---
schema_version: "1"
id: ab02917e7261ffcf273cfff2b47906aa617a79d83d5957e077f69cf35134f69b
title: Retrieve Data Extension Object Using Customer Key
collection: developer
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/marketing-cloud/guides/mc-apis/retrieving_dataextension_object.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/marketing/marketing-cloud/guide/retrieving_dataextension_object.html
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 89e103e590bd3158b01edbbb743ce9bed51348196bac5c5cc99551f3b8fd663c
products:
  - Marketing Cloud Engagement APIs and Programmatic Languages
  - Marketing Cloud
---
# Retrieve Data Extension Object Using Customer Key

This page contains information about retrieving a data extension object using the CustomerKey property.

## Why Retrieve a Data Extension Object using Customer Key

You can use the CustomerKey property to pull back data from applicable data extensions. Use the information retrieved in more API calls or to filter subscribers into different groups.

## How To Retrieve the Data Extension Object Using Customer Key

Use the sample code below as a model to create your own API call.

### Sample .NET Code

```
/**
* Retrieve Data Extension using CustomerKey of Object.
*/
public void testRetrieveDataExtension()
{
    APIObject[] results;
    // Create RetrieveRequest
    RetrieveRequest rr = new RetrieveRequest();
    rr.ObjectType = "DataExtension";
    rr.Properties =
        new string[]
            {
                "ObjectID", "CustomerKey", "Name", "IsSendable", "SendableSubscriberField.Name"
            };
    SimpleFilterPart filter = new SimpleFilterPart();
    filter.Property = "CustomerKey";
    filter.SimpleOperator = SimpleOperators.equals;
    filter.Value = new string[]{"Testing_Forigen_Char_key"};
    rr.Filter = filter;
    // Execute RetrieveRequest
    String status = soapClient.Retrieve(rr, out requestID, out results);
    // Output the Values
    Console.WriteLine(status);
    Console.WriteLine(requestID);
    Console.WriteLine(results.Length);
    Console.WriteLine("_________Properties______________");
}
```

### Sample SOAP Envelopes

#### Request XML

```
<Body xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
    <RetrieveRequestMsg xmlns="http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI">
        <RetrieveRequest>
            <ObjectType>DataExtension</ObjectType>
            <Properties>ObjectID</Properties>
            <Properties>CustomerKey</Properties>
            <Properties>Name</Properties>
            <Properties>IsSendable</Properties>
            <Properties>SendableSubscriberField.Name</Properties>
            <Filter xsi:type="SimpleFilterPart">
            <Property>CustomerKey</Property>
            <SimpleOperator>equals</SimpleOperator>
            <Value>Testing_Forigen_Char_key</Value>
            </Filter>
        </RetrieveRequest>
    </RetrieveRequestMsg>
</Body>
```

#### Response XML

```
<Body xmlns:xsi="xsi">
    <RetrieveResponseMsg xmlns="http://exacttarget.com/wsdl/partnerAPI">
        <OverallStatus>OK</OverallStatus>
        <RequestID>8786bab5-51ff-41b6-a485-3d24d8f43b69</RequestID>
        <Results xsi:type="DataExtension">
            <ObjectID>6f64f34b-4254-de11-92ee-001cc494ae9e</ObjectID>
            <CustomerKey>Testing_Forigen_Char_key</CustomerKey>
            <Name>Testing_Forigen_Char</Name>
            <IsSendable>true</IsSendable>
            <SendableSubscriberField>
            <Name>_SubscriberKey</Name>
            </SendableSubscriberField>
        </Results>
    </RetrieveResponseMsg>
</Body>
```