aid: payloadcms
name: Payload CMS
description: Open-source headless CMS and fullstack Next.js framework providing automatic
  REST and GraphQL APIs for managing collections, globals, media, users, and custom
  fields in self-hosted or cloud deployments.
image: https://kinlane-productions.s3.amazonaws.com/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/payloadcms/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
tags:
- Headless CMS
- Content Management
- REST API
- GraphQL
- Next.js
- Open Source
- Self-Hosted
- TypeScript
apis:
- aid: payloadcms:rest-api
  name: Payload CMS REST API
  description: Auto-generated RESTful API for managing collections, globals, media
    uploads, users, and preferences. Mounted at /api/{collection-slug} with full CRUD
    operations plus authentication endpoints.
  humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview
  baseURL: https://{your-domain}/api
  tags:
  - REST
  - Collections
  - Globals
  - Authentication
  - Media
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/rest-api/overview
- aid: payloadcms:graphql-api
  name: Payload CMS GraphQL API
  description: Fully featured GraphQL API exposed at /api/graphql with auto-generated
    types for all collections and globals. Includes a GraphQL Playground at /api/graphql-playground
    and supports complexity limiting to prevent abuse.
  humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/graphql/overview
  baseURL: https://{your-domain}/api/graphql
  tags:
  - GraphQL
  - Collections
  - Globals
  - Authentication
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/graphql/overview
  - url: graphql/payloadcms-graphql.md
    type: GraphQL
- aid: payloadcms:local-api
  name: Payload CMS Local API
  description: Server-side Node.js API for direct database interaction without HTTP
    overhead. Supports all collection and global operations including authentication,
    ideal for React Server Components and server-side rendering.
  humanURL: https://payloadcms.com/docs/local-api/overview
  baseURL: https://{your-domain}
  tags:
  - Node.js
  - Server-Side
  - Collections
  - Globals
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/local-api/overview
common:
- type: Website
  url: https://payloadcms.com
- type: Documentation
  url: https://payloadcms.com/docs/getting-started/what-is-payload
- type: GitHubOrg
  url: https://github.com/payloadcms
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/payload-cms
- type: Blog
  url: https://payloadcms.com/posts/blog
- type: Pricing
  url: https://payloadcms.com/cloud
- type: X
  url: https://x.com/payloadcms
- type: Plans
  url: plans/payloadcms-plans-pricing.yml
- type: RateLimits
  url: rate-limits/payloadcms-rate-limits.yml
- type: FinOps
  url: finops/payloadcms-finops.yml
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com