---
schema_version: "1"
id: ed514bc5eb2adc9fa7bbe4fec9046b03813b357cb64a693292f1538415e5f840
title: Named Credential API Links
collection: developer
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/security/named-credentials/references/about/nc-api-links.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/named-credentials/references/named-credentials-reference/nc-api-links.html
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: cdd06a509c4f170b6f52755f168d0cae4d6634329b9d450e00b934da2fd9081a
products:
  - Named Credentials
  - Security
---
# Named Credential API Links

You can create named credentials [through the UI](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=xcloud.nc_named_creds_and_ext_creds.htm) or programmatically. Follow these links to programmatically create and manage named credentials and external credentials.

## Named Credentials

- [NamedCredentials Class | Apex Reference Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_ConnectAPI_NamedCredentials_static_methods.htm)

  Create, get, update, and delete credentials. Get external credentials. Get the URL for the OAuth token flow for an external credential.

- [ConnectApi.NamedCredential | Apex Reference Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_connectapi_output_named_credential.htm)

  Named credential associated with an external credential.

- [Named Credentials Resources | Connect REST API Developer Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.chatterapi.meta/chatterapi/connect_resources_named_credentials_resources.htm)

  Get, create, refresh, replace, update, and delete a credential. Get the URL for the OAuth token flow for an external credential. Get, create, update, and delete external credentials. Get, create, update, and delete named credentials.

- Metadata API, Tooling API, and Object Reference:

  - [NamedCredential | Metadata API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_namedcredential.htm)

  - [NamedCredential | Tooling API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_tooling.meta/api_tooling/tooling_api_objects_namedcredential.htm)

  - [NamedCredential | Object Reference](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.object_reference.meta/object_reference/sforce_api_objects_namedcredential.htm)

  Represents a named credential, which specifies the URL of a callout endpoint and its required authentication parameters in one definition. A named credential can be specified as an endpoint to simplify the setup of authenticated callouts.

  Available in the Metadata API and the Object Reference in API version 33.0 and later. Available in the Tooling API in API version 51.0 and later.

## External Credentials

- [ConnectApi.ExternalCredential | Apex Reference Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_connectapi_output_external_credential.htm)

  External credential, including the named credentials and principals associated with it and the type and status of each principal.

- [ConnectApi.ExternalCredentialParameter | Apex Reference Guide](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexref.meta/apexref/apex_connectapi_output_external_credential_parameter.htm)

  External credential parameters.

- Metadata API and Tooling API:

  - [ExternalCredential | Metadata API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_meta.meta/api_meta/meta_externalcredential.htm)
  - [ExternalCredential | Tooling API](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.api_tooling.meta/api_tooling/tooling_api_objects_externalcredential.htm)

  Represents the details of how Salesforce authenticates to the external system.

  Available in the Metadata API and the Tooling API in API version 56.0 and later.