Get Started

​​Marqeta provides a comprehensive and powerful API to meet our various business needs. It offers us a variety of solutions that we can use depending on our use case.

Core API resources

We’ll now take a look at some of the most important resources that comprise Marqeta’s Core API. We’ll also get a detailed understanding of the relationships among these resources.

The Core API comprises the following key resources:

• A user, also known as a cardholder, is a person who owns and uses a Marqeta card.

• The card, is a physical or virtual payment card owned by a user.

• The card product defines the behavior and functionality of Marqeta cards. It further defines the attributes of the card and specifies the policies regarding its usage.

• A general purpose account, also known as GPA, it is the default account for a user.

• The funding source is the source from which funds are transferred to a user’s general purpose account (GPA) using a GPA order.

• A GPA order is the means by which funds are transferred from a funding source into a general purpose account (GPA) of a user.

The diagram below shows the main resources of Marqeta’s Core API and the relationships among them.

Get started with Marqeta’s Core API

Let’s take a look at the steps needed to start using Marqeta’s Core API.

Create an account

Step 1: Head over to Marqeta’s Registration Page to create an account. Fill in the account creation form and click the “CREATE ACCOUNT” button.

Step 2: An account verification email will be sent to the registered email address you used to register your account. Click the verification button provided in the email.

Step 3: Click the “RETURN TO SIGN IN” button to redirect to the sign-in page.

Step 4: Sign in using your registered email and password.

Note: When you sign in, you may be asked to enter your phone number to verify your identity as part of the 2-step verification process.

Create a sandbox

After you’ve created your account and signed in, it’s time to create a sandbox where you can simulate transactions on the Marqeta platform.

Step 1: Click the “Create sandbox” button. You’ll see a message on your screen that says that your sandbox will be created shortly. Please wait patiently, because it may take a few minutes for the sandbox to be ready.

Step 2: You’ll be redirected to the dashboard as soon as your sandbox is ready. You’ll also receive an email that will contain a button to redirect you to the dashboard.

On the dashboard, you’ll be provided with your API keys. These will include the following items:

• The application token is used to identify the API client.
• The admin access token allows access to the sandbox.
• We append endpoint to the base URL when we make API requests.

Set up the API keys

Copy the “Application token”, “Admin access token”, and the “Base URL”. Then click on the “Edit” button below. Enter the three values in their respective fields and click the “Save” button.

Click the “Run” button in the code widget below to validate the API keys.

After you’ve created your account (along with a sandbox) and set up your API keys, you’re ready to make your first call to Marqeta’s Core API!