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

# API Overview

> Introduction to the Polymarket Exchange API

## What are the Polymarket APIs?

The Polymarket APIs are the interface for interacting with:

* **Polymarket US (DCM)** - For execution and trading
* **Polymarket Clearing (DCO)** - For clearing, balances, positions, and risk

Polymarket offers two APIs for different use cases:

| API | Audience | Protocols | Capabilities |
| - | - | - | - |
| [**Exchange API**](/trader-guide/overview) | DMA Participants, ISVs, IBs, and FCMs | REST, gRPC, FIX | Full trading + clearing, funding, KYC, account management. RSA auth via Auth0. Supports broker/customer relationships. |
| [**Retail API**](/retail-api/introduction) | App Users | REST, WebSocket | Self-service via iOS app. API keys. Personal accounts only. |

## API Capabilities

**Trading**: Place, modify, and cancel orders; monitor order status and fills; access execution and trade data

**Market Data**: Real-time order book depth, best bid/offer (BBO), instrument reference data, trading state and limits

**Account Management**: View balances and positions, track profit and loss, monitor risk limits

**Funding**: Deposit funds (ACH via Aeropay, card/Apple Pay via Checkout), withdraw funds, monitor funding status

**Reporting**: Search historical orders and trades, download execution reports, access compliance data, export to CSV

**KYC**: Initiate identity verification, check verification status, manage user onboarding

## Key Concepts

**Clearing Member**: The top-level clearing entity

**Participant Firm**: The onboarded legal entity (your organization)

**User**: A user with specific roles and permissions (Trading User, Drop Copy User, etc.)

**Trading Account**: Holds balances, positions, and orders

All trading and risk are scoped to the trading account. User permissions determine what operations each user can perform.


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