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

# Endpoint Extensions

> Create custom API endpoints

Endpoint extensions allow you to add custom API routes to Directus.

## Creating an Endpoint

```bash theme={null}
npm init directus-extension
# Select "endpoint" as the extension type
```

## Endpoint Structure

```typescript theme={null}
import { defineEndpoint } from '@directus/extensions-sdk';

export default defineEndpoint((router, context) => {
  const { services, getSchema } = context;

  router.get('/', async (req, res) => {
    res.json({ message: 'Hello from custom endpoint!' });
  });

  router.get('/items', async (req, res) => {
    const schema = await getSchema();
    const itemsService = new services.ItemsService('articles', {
      schema,
      accountability: req.accountability,
    });

    const items = await itemsService.readByQuery({
      limit: 10,
    });

    res.json({ data: items });
  });

  router.post('/process', async (req, res) => {
    const { data } = req.body;
    
    // Process data
    const result = processData(data);
    
    res.json({ result });
  });
});
```

## Router

The router is an Express router. You can use all Express methods:

```typescript theme={null}
router.get('/path', handler);
router.post('/path', handler);
router.patch('/path', handler);
router.delete('/path', handler);
router.use(middleware);
```

## Request Object

The request object includes:

```typescript theme={null}
interface Request {
  accountability: Accountability | null;
  body: any;
  params: Record<string, string>;
  query: Record<string, string>;
  headers: Record<string, string>;
  // ... standard Express request properties
}
```

## Using Services

Access Directus services:

```typescript theme={null}
const { ItemsService, UsersService, FilesService } = services;

const schema = await getSchema();
const itemsService = new ItemsService('articles', {
  schema,
  accountability: req.accountability,
});

const items = await itemsService.readByQuery({});
```

## Authentication

Endpoints respect Directus authentication:

```typescript theme={null}
router.get('/protected', async (req, res) => {
  if (!req.accountability) {
    return res.status(401).json({ error: 'Unauthorized' });
  }

  // User is authenticated
  res.json({ user: req.accountability.user });
});
```

## Error Handling

```typescript theme={null}
router.get('/item/:id', async (req, res, next) => {
  try {
    const schema = await getSchema();
    const itemsService = new ItemsService('articles', { schema });
    
    const item = await itemsService.readOne(req.params.id);
    res.json({ data: item });
  } catch (error) {
    next(error);
  }
});
```

## Accessing External APIs

```typescript theme={null}
import axios from 'axios';

router.get('/external', async (req, res) => {
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.example.com/data');
  res.json(response.data);
});
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Hooks" icon="webhook" href="/extensions/hooks">
    Create server hooks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Operations" icon="diagram-project" href="/extensions/operations">
    Create flow operations
  </Card>
</CardGroup>