> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cosmocloud.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cosmocloud.io/examples-how-to/making-an-external-api-call.md).

# Making an external API call

We often have the use case where we want to make an API call -- be it to another micro-service in your eco system or to a 3rd party service. Over here we'll see how to accomplish the same in Cosmocloud's Flow Builder.

## Using [API Call](/flow-builder/node-types/external-nodes/api-call.md) node

You can use the `API Call` node in the Flow Builder to connect to any external service and hit their API.

<figure><img src="/files/3PFNUguqXyaOiehmqz1z" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can then open this node's properties and configure your API call you would want to perform. For example, if you want to fetch a list of students from `https://example.com/students` using a `GET` API call, you would configure it as per the below screenshot -

<figure><img src="/files/008sqnM6wyrJBtY166JU" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This node will return `body` and `statusCode` for you to use in the rest of your flow. For example, if the above `API Call` node has the nodename `node_7`, you can access the response body as `$.node_7.body.<key_in_body>`

You can also make `POST` and other calls, as well as JSON payloads and enable Authentication on this external API.

{% hint style="info" %}
To go deep into `API Call` node's documentation, please [check this link](/flow-builder/node-types/external-nodes/api-call.md).
{% endhint %}