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

# Shipping products API overview

<Warning>
  **API v2 is entering maintenance mode.** New users should start with API v3 to access our latest features and improved
  performance. Already using v2? Don't worry, your current integration remains fully functional. Read more about
  [maintenance mode](/docs/getting-started/api-version-guide), or check out the [migration guide for API
  v3](/docs/getting-started/migration-guidelines-for-api-v3).
</Warning>

A **shipping product** is the term used to refer to a **group of shipping methods** offered by a shipping carrier. The methods within the overall shipping product will share the same characteristics, but are differentiated from each other based on additional **shipping functionalities**, parcel **weight classes** or other criteria.

The **Shipping products API** allows you to retrieve shipping products and their associated shipping methods, filtered by specific criteria and shipping functionalities.

For example, the carrier PostNL offers several shipping products, one of which is *PostNL Standard*. The PostNL Standard shipping product consists of various individual **shipping methods**, such as:

* PostNL Standard 0-23 kg
* PostNL Standard with signature 0-23kg
* PostNL Evening delivery + Home address only 0-23 kg, etc.

In order to create a parcel and immediately announce it, an appropriate shipping method `id` is required. There are two methods of obtaining a shipping method `id` via the API:

1. Retrieve a list of all available shipping methods based on a default or specific sender address via the [Retrieve a list of shipping methods](/api/v2/shipping-methods/retrieve-a-list-of-shipping-methods) endpoint
2. Retrieve a list of shipping methods which **match a number of specific criteria and shipping functionalities** via the [Retrieve a list of shipping products](/api/v2/shipping-products/retrieve-a-list-of-shipping-products) endpoint