# About the Textual REST API

The Tonic Textual REST API allows you to more deeply integrate Textual functions into your existing workflows.

You can use the REST API as another tool alongside the Textual application and the Textual Python SDK. The Python SDK supports the same actions as the REST API. We recommend the Python SDK for customers who already use Python.

You can download the Textual OpenAPI specification from:

<https://textual.tonic.ai/swagger/v1/swagger.json>

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Authentication</strong><br><br>Authentication requirements for the REST API</td><td><a href="rest-api-authentication">rest-api-authentication</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Redaction</strong><br><br>Use the REST API to redact text.</td><td><a href="rest-api-redaction">rest-api-redaction</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Datasets</strong><br><br>Use the REST API to manage datasets and dataset files.</td><td><a href="rest-api-datasets">rest-api-datasets</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Entity linking</strong><br><br>Use the REST API to link entity values.</td><td><a href="entity-linking">entity-linking</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Access management</strong><br><br>Use the REST API to retrieve  user information and to manage dataset access.</td><td><a href="access-management">access-management</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.tonic.ai/textual/textual-rest-api/about-the-textual-rest-api.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.