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

# Getting Started

> Start integrating Glyde APIs into your application

Glyde provides a unified API for accepting payments, sending money, managing virtual accounts, and verifying identities in Nigeria.

## Overview

Whether you're building an e-commerce platform, fintech app, or any product that handles money, Glyde gives you the tools to move funds securely and reliably.

**What you can do with Glyde:**

* **Accept payments** from customers via card or bank transfer
* **Send money** to any Nigerian bank account instantly
* **Create virtual accounts** for customers to receive dedicated payment channels

## Environments

Glyde provides two environments for development and production:

| Environment    | Base URL                         | Purpose                           |
| -------------- | -------------------------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Sandbox**    | `https://sandbox.useglyde.co/v1` | Testing and development           |
| **Production** | `https://api.useglyde.co/v1`     | Live transactions with real money |

Start in sandbox to build and test your integration without processing real transactions. When you're ready, switch to production by updating your API keys and base URL.

## Quick Start

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create Your Account">
    Sign up at [app.useglyde.co](https://app.useglyde.co) to access your merchant dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get Your API Keys">
    Navigate to **Settings** → **API Configuration** to find your secret and public keys. You'll have separate keys for sandbox and production.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Webhooks">
    Set up your webhook URL in the dashboard to receive real-time notifications about transaction status changes. This is essential for knowing when payments complete or transfers succeed.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test Your Integration">
    Use your sandbox keys to test the full payment flow. Simulate successful and failed transactions using our test credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go Live">
    Once testing is complete, switch to production keys and start processing real transactions.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Core Capabilities

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Accept Payments" icon="credit-card" href="/api-reference/payins/initialise-collection-request">
    Create checkout pages or generate bank transfer details to collect payments from customers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Send Money" icon="paper-plane" href="/api-reference/payouts/initiate-transfer">
    Transfer funds from your Glyde wallet to any Nigerian bank account in seconds.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Virtual Accounts" icon="building-columns" href="/api-reference/guides/virtual-accounts">
    Issue dedicated bank accounts to customers for recurring payments and easy reconciliation.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Integration Patterns

**Server-side integration** is required for all Glyde API calls. Your secret key should never be exposed in client-side code (browsers or mobile apps). Make API calls from your backend server and return only the necessary data to your frontend.

**Webhooks are essential** for production integrations. While you can poll for transaction status, webhooks provide immediate notifications when transactions complete, fail, or require attention.

## Next Steps

* Learn about [Authentication](/api-reference/authentication) to secure your API requests
* Understand [Webhooks](/api-reference/webhooks) to handle real-time notifications
* Review [Error Handling](/api-reference/errors) to build resilient integrations
* Explore [Testing](/api-reference/testing) to validate your implementation