---
tags: [payloadcms, tech-patterns]
topic: payloadcms
sources:
  - https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview
created: 2026-05-15
---

# PayloadCMS — REST API

## Overview

Payload auto-generates a fully functional REST API from Collection and Global configs. All routes are prefixed with `/api` (configurable via `routes.api`).

- Collection slugs must be **kebab-case**
- Supports: depth, locale, fallback-locale, select, populate, limit, page, sort, where, joins
- Type-safe client available via `@payloadcms/sdk` (beta)

## Collection Endpoints

| Method | Path | Operation |
|--------|------|-----------|
| `GET` | `/api/{slug}` | Find (paginated) |
| `GET` | `/api/{slug}/{id}` | Find by ID |
| `GET` | `/api/{slug}/count` | Count documents |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}` | Create |
| `PATCH` | `/api/{slug}` | Update many (with `where`) |
| `PATCH` | `/api/{slug}/{id}` | Update by ID |
| `DELETE` | `/api/{slug}` | Delete many (with `where`) |
| `DELETE` | `/api/{slug}/{id}` | Delete by ID |

## Auth Endpoints (auth-enabled collections)

| Method | Path | Operation |
|--------|------|-----------|
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/login` | Login — returns JWT + user |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/logout` | Logout |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/refresh-token` | Refresh JWT |
| `GET` | `/api/{slug}/me` | Current user |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/forgot-password` | Trigger password reset |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/reset-password` | Apply new password with token |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/verify/{token}` | Verify email |
| `POST` | `/api/{slug}/unlock` | Unlock locked account |

## Global Endpoints

| Method | Path | Operation |
|--------|------|-----------|
| `GET` | `/api/globals/{slug}` | Get global |
| `POST` | `/api/globals/{slug}` | Update global |

## Query Parameters

| Param | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `depth` | `number` | Relationship population depth (default: `2`) |
| `locale` | `string` | Return doc in a specific locale |
| `fallback-locale` | `string` | Fallback locale |
| `select` | `object` | Field projection (`select[title]=true`) |
| `populate` | `object` | Override `defaultPopulate` for related docs |
| `limit` | `number` | Docs per page (default: `10`) |
| `page` | `number` | Page number |
| `sort` | `string` | Field name, prefix `-` for descending, comma-separated for multi |
| `where` | `object` | Filter query (see [[wiki/payloadcms/queries|Queries]]) |
| `joins` | `object` | Custom request per join field |

## Code Examples

### Basic fetch

```ts
// Find published posts, sorted newest first
const res = await fetch('/api/posts?where[status][equals]=published&sort=-createdAt&limit=10')
const { docs, totalDocs, totalPages } = await res.json()
```

### Complex query with qs-esm

```ts
import { stringify } from 'qs-esm'

const query = stringify({
  where: { color: { equals: 'mint' } },
  select: { title: true, slug: true },
  sort: '-createdAt',
  limit: 20,
}, { addQueryPrefix: true })

const res = await fetch(`/api/posts${query}`)
```

### Auth: login and use token

```ts
const { token } = await fetch('/api/users/login', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({ email: 'dev@example.com', password: 'secret' }),
}).then(r => r.json())

// Authenticated request
const res = await fetch('/api/posts', {
  headers: { Authorization: `JWT ${token}` },
})
```

## PayloadCMS SDK (`@payloadcms/sdk`)

Type-safe REST client, API similar to Local API:

```ts
import { PayloadSDK } from '@payloadcms/sdk'
import type { Config } from './payload-types'

const sdk = new PayloadSDK<Config>({ baseURL: 'https://example.com/api' })

// Operations
await sdk.find({ collection: 'posts', limit: 10, where: { _status: { equals: 'published' } } })
await sdk.findByID({ collection: 'posts', id })
await sdk.create({ collection: 'posts', data: { text: 'hello' } })
await sdk.update({ collection: 'posts', id, data: { text: 'updated' } })
await sdk.delete({ collection: 'posts', id })
await sdk.findGlobal({ slug: 'header' })
await sdk.updateGlobal({ slug: 'header', data: { text: 'new' } })

// Auth operations
await sdk.login({ collection: 'users', data: { email, password } })
await sdk.me({ collection: 'users' }, { headers: { Authorization: `JWT ${token}` } })
await sdk.refreshToken({ collection: 'users' }, { headers: { Authorization: `JWT ${token}` } })
```

### Custom endpoint

```ts
await sdk.request({ method: 'POST', path: '/send-data', json: { id: 1 } })
```

## Custom Endpoints

Add `endpoints` array to collection, global, or root config:

```ts
export const Orders: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'orders',
  endpoints: [
    {
      path: '/:id/tracking',
      method: 'get',
      handler: async (req) => {
        const tracking = await getTrackingInfo(req.routeParams.id)
        if (!tracking) return Response.json({ error: 'not found' }, { status: 404 })
        return Response.json(tracking)
      },
    },
  ],
}
```

### Custom endpoint helpers

```ts
import { addDataAndFileToRequest, addLocalesToRequestFromData, headersWithCors } from 'payload'

// Parse body + file
await addDataAndFileToRequest(req)    // populates req.data and req.file

// Parse locale params
await addLocalesToRequestFromData(req) // populates req.locale and req.fallbackLocale

// CORS headers
return Response.json(data, { headers: headersWithCors({ headers: new Headers(), req }) })
```

## Method Override (long GET queries)

When query strings are too long, use POST with `X-Payload-HTTP-Method-Override: GET`:

```ts
const res = await fetch('/api/posts', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded',
    'X-Payload-HTTP-Method-Override': 'GET',
  },
  body: qs.stringify({ depth: 1, locale: 'en' }),
})
```

## Gotchas

- Custom endpoints are **not authenticated by default** — add `if (!req.user)` checks manually
- `req.data` is not auto-populated in custom endpoints — call `await addDataAndFileToRequest(req)` first
- `req.locale` / `req.fallbackLocale` are not populated in custom endpoints — use `addLocalesToRequestFromData`
- Custom endpoints with `root: true` bypass `routes.api` — only valid on top-level Payload config, not on collections/globals
- SDK is in **beta** — may have breaking changes in minor versions
- `limit: 0` automatically disables pagination

## Related

- [[wiki/payloadcms/queries|Queries]]
- [[wiki/payloadcms/local-api|Local API]]