---
title: Getting Started with Synthetic Monitoring
description: >-
  Monitor system performance with simulated requests for API, browser, and
  mobile tests across global locations.
breadcrumbs: Docs > Getting Started > Getting Started with Synthetic Monitoring
---

# Getting Started with Synthetic Monitoring

## Overview{% #overview %}

Synthetic tests allow you to observe how your systems and applications are performing using **simulated requests and actions from around the globe**. Datadog tracks the performance of your webpages and APIs from the backend to the frontend, and at various network levels (`HTTP`, `SSL`, `DNS`, `WebSocket`, `TCP`, `UDP`, `ICMP`, and `gRPC`) in a controlled and stable way, alerting you about faulty behavior such as regressions, broken features, high response times, and unexpected status codes.

{% image
   source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/getting_started/synthetics/synthetic-monitoring-overview.fcb3cf00630354bbd5b854dbc4d38dd7.png?auto=format"
   alt="Synthetic Monitoring Tests" /%}

## Synthetic test types{% #synthetic-test-types %}

Datadog offers **API tests**, **Multistep API tests**, **Browser tests**, and **Mobile tests**.

To monitor internal-facing applications, run your tests from managed locations or private locations. Synthetic tests can be triggered manually, on a schedule, or [directly from your CI/CD pipelines](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/continuous_testing/).

## Prerequisites{% #prerequisites %}

If you haven't already, create a [Datadog account](https://www.datadoghq.com/).

## Configure your first test{% #configure-your-first-test %}

To set up your first Synthetic test with Datadog, choose from the following options:

- [Create an API test](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/synthetics/api_test/) to start monitoring your API endpoints' uptime.
- [Create a multistep API test](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/synthetics/api_test/#create-a-multistep-api-test) to link several HTTP requests and start monitoring key workflows at the API level.
- [Create a browser test](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/synthetics/browser_test/) to start testing critical business transactions on your applications.
- [Create a mobile test](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/synthetics/mobile_app_testing/) to start testing key business workflows on your Android and iOS applications.
- [Create a private location](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/synthetics/private_location/) to start monitoring internal applications using all Synthetic test types.

## Synthetic Monitoring notifications{% #synthetic-monitoring-notifications %}

Use and enrich Synthetic monitors to send notifications when a Synthetic Monitoring test is failing. The following use cases are available:

{% dl %}

{% dt %}
Pre-filled monitor messages
{% /dt %}

{% dd %}
Pre-filled monitor messages provide a structured starting point for Synthetic test alerts. Each message includes a standardized title, summary, and footer containing test metadata, making it easier to understand the alert at a glance.
{% /dd %}

{% dt %}
Template variables
{% /dt %}

{% dd %}
Template variables let you inject test-specific data into monitor notifications dynamically. These variables pull from the `synthetics.attributes` object.
{% /dd %}

{% dt %}
Advanced usage
{% /dt %}

{% dd %}
Advanced usage includes techniques for surfacing deeper test insights or structuring complex messages using handlebars templating.
{% /dd %}

{% dt %}
Conditional alerting
{% /dt %}

{% dd %}
Conditional alerting allows you to change the content of a monitor notification based on specific test results or failure conditions.
{% /dd %}

{% /dl %}

For more information, see [Synthetic Monitoring notifications](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/notifications/).

## Version History{% #version-history %}

Use [Version History in Synthetic Monitoring](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/guide/version_history/) to run a previous version of a test, restore your test to any saved version, or clone a version to create a new Synthetic Monitoring test.

## Further Reading{% #further-reading %}

- [Getting Started with Synthetic Browser Testing](https://learn.datadoghq.com/courses/getting-started-with-synthetic-browser-testing)
- [Learn more about API tests](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/api_tests)
- [Learn more about multistep API tests](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/multistep)
- [Learn more about mobile tests](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/mobile_app_testing)
- [Learn more about browser tests](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/browser_tests)
- [Learn more about private locations](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/private_locations)
- [Learn about running Synthetic tests in a CI pipeline](https://docs.datadoghq.com/continuous_testing/cicd_integrations)
- [Join an interactive session to enhance your synthetic testing capabilities](https://dtdg.co/fe)