--- title: Endpoint Observability description: Datadog, the leading service for cloud-scale monitoring. breadcrumbs: Docs > Internal Developer Portal > Software Catalog > Endpoint Observability --- # Endpoint Observability {% callout %} # Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com {% alert level="danger" %} This product is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site). (). {% /alert %} {% /callout %} {% callout %} # Important note for users on the following Datadog sites: app.ddog-gov.com {% alert level="danger" %} Endpoint Observability is not supported for your selected [Datadog site](https://docs.datadoghq.com/getting_started/site) (). {% /alert %} {% /callout %} {% image source="https://datadog-docs.imgix.net/images/tracing/software_catalog/endpoints-list.76002fe1720103a3d98e070050f8caeb.png?auto=format" alt="Endpoints list in the Software Catalog, showing performance-related information for each endpoint." /%} ## Overview{% #overview %} The Software Catalog's [Endpoints list](https://app.datadoghq.com/services?selectedComponent=endpoint) consolidates everything you need to know about your API endpoints. It provides a comprehensive view of performance, reliability, and ownership across all your APIs, whether they serve internal teams or external users. This helps you and your teams effectively monitor mission-critical, API-driven features and ensure they meet performance expectations. ## Use cases{% #use-cases %} The Endpoints list combines data from across Datadog to provide opinionated workflows. You can do the following: - **Discover APIs automatically**: Maintain a complete inventory of your public, private, and partner APIs, organized by endpoint. - **Surface correlated data**: Navigate from endpoints to traces, logs, and metrics from different Datadog sources. - **Identify performance issues**: Use metrics such as *Last Seen*, *Requests*, *Latency*, and *Errors* to track API health. - **Receive alerts**: Define performance expectations and thresholds that trigger alerts. - **Assign ownership information**: Set teams, on-call, and communication channel information to each endpoint so you know whom to reach when errors occur. - **Ensure comprehensive coverage**: Track the status of API monitors, synthetic tests, and security signals, with direct links to detailed information for investigations. ## Getting started{% #getting-started %} Your endpoints automatically populate in the Endpoints list if you use [Datadog APM](https://docs.datadoghq.com/tracing/trace_collection/) to monitor HTTP services. ### Exploring endpoints{% #exploring-endpoints %} Browse and query properties and metrics that are related to your endpoints. Read [Exploring Endpoints](https://docs.datadoghq.com/internal_developer_portal/software_catalog/endpoints/explore_endpoints/) for more information. ### Monitoring endpoints{% #monitoring-endpoints %} Manage and monitor your APIs and endpoints to: - Find and fix underperforming endpoints. - Track their reliability against standards and objectives. - Watch for anomalies. - Investigate errors. - Ensure test coverage. - Close security gaps. Read [Monitoring Endpoints](https://docs.datadoghq.com/internal_developer_portal/software_catalog/endpoints/monitor_endpoints/) for more information. ### Assigning owners to endpoints{% #assigning-owners-to-endpoints %} Add ownership information to endpoints to streamline investigations and team communication. Read [Assigning Owners](https://docs.datadoghq.com/software_catalog/manage) for more information. ### Adding endpoints to the list{% #adding-endpoints-to-the-list %} Assign automatically detected endpoints to API groups to track usage, define ownership, and configure monitoring policies from a centralized location. Alternatively, upload an OpenAPI or Swagger file to unlock the full capabilities of the Endpoints list. Read [Adding Entries](https://docs.datadoghq.com/software_catalog/customize/create_entries) for more information. ### Adding metadata to APIs{% #adding-metadata-to-apis %} Add metadata to APIs through the Datadog UI or API, or use automated pipelines through the GitHub integration or Terraform. Read [Adding Metadata to APIs](https://docs.datadoghq.com/software_catalog/service_definitions/#add-metadata-to-endpoints) for more information. ## Key terminology{% #key-terminology %} | Term | Definition | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | API | A set of protocols and tools that allows two applications to communicate. | | API endpoint | The address (URL) of a resource of a server or service that implements the rules defined in the API, often through an HTTP or RESTful interface. The API endpoint processes requests and provides the corresponding responses. | | Public APIs | Customer-facing API endpoints that are accessible from the internet. | | Private APIs | Also called *internal APIs*. These are designed exclusively for internal use within an organization and are used mainly for backend service communication. These are the most common type of API. | | Partner APIs | Also called *third-party APIs*. These are public endpoints provided by another organization (for example, Stripe, Google, or Facebook) that your organization uses to provide its services. | ## Further reading{% #further-reading %} - [Manage API performance, security, and ownership with Datadog API Catalog](https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/monitor-apis-datadog-api-catalog/) - [Datadog Software Catalog](https://docs.datadoghq.com/tracing/software_catalog/) - [Synthetic API Tests](https://docs.datadoghq.com/synthetics/api_tests/http_tests/) - [AAP API Security](https://docs.datadoghq.com/security/application_security/how-it-works/#api-security) - [Mitigate the primary risks to API security](https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/primary-risks-to-api-security/)