Incorporate XBRL into your products easily and quickly.

Any Language

You can write in Java, C#, Flex, or just about anything else that can access HTTP.

Incredibly Simple

The HTTP-based RESTful Web Services means that there is no complicated SOAP or other packaging.

Here's all you need to call the Web Services:

• Register
• Select your preferred API Style: Simple, REST, or SOAP
• Select a method (which for Simple, REST are just straight-forward URLs)

Amazingly Discoverable

Because REST is just HTTP, you can "experiment" with your calls by typing in the URL into the browser. Once you get the desired result, just paste that URL into your code.

Quick Links:

• What's in it for me?
• Selecting the API Style
• RESTful Web Services
• Hosting Alternatives
• Become a Partner

NOTE: You will probably also want to know more about Customizing the XBRL Cloud environment.

So why should you use XBRL Cloud? The answer is that you can save your self time and money—now and in the future:

Use your favorite programming language

Access to XBRL Cloud is via web services. This means you can call into XBRL Cloud from Java, C#, Python, Ruby, VB, or just about any programming language.

Use for favorite web services architecture.

XBRL Cloud offers web services your preferred API Style: Simple, REST, or SOAP

No Installation—Get Started Now

The beauty of cloud computing: No installation, no configuration, no figuring out how to use the software.

Reduced Costs

We take care of the nuisance tasks: setting up web servers, security, and more. We are typically very cost-effective at these tasks. You don't have to waste time or money. You can focus on your business needs.

Zero Maintenance

We handle all server upgrades, XBRL upgrades, API upgrades, Report Upgrades, etc. Again, you only have to focus on what differentiates your business.

Infinite Scalability

This is a cloud: servers can be added or dropped as needed.

The Simple API

Use the Simple API if your primary objective is to fetch reports, or simply run validation. The Simple API is really nothing more than an HTTP GET. If you are not a professional programmer, or are not sure where to start, you might want to use this API.

The REST API

For anyone doing serious XBRL, we highly recommend that use the REST API.
Read more about RESTful Web Services below.

The SOAP API

While we recommend using the REST API, we recognize that many people are already comfortable using SOAP, so we have included a SOAP API.

Please contact us if you think of a new service request, regardless of which API you choose..

We highly recommend that you if you are doing anything more than simple GET operations that you use the REST interface. A well designed RESTful Web Services follow a Resource Oriented Architecture (ROA). Very briefly, an ROA has the following facets:

Resources

Anything that warrants its own reference, such as a XBRL validation report of a specific taxonomy.

URI Addressablity

Each resource must be identfied by at least one URI. Each URI must be "real", and must truly identify the resource. For example, you can print the URI in a book, or type it into your browser.

Statelessness

The URI must not depend on cookies, or server machine state.

Representations

Each resource has one or more representations. For example, XBRL Cloud, can often return XML, XHTML, JSON, and other representations of exactly the same data.

Linked and Connected

In many cases, resources point to other resources. XBRL Cloud, for example, has a "report listing" resource for each XBRL document that points to a set of corresponding reports.

A Uniform Interface

The "methods" must be for consistent for each resource. For example, each URI (when appropriate) should support GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

For more information, we highly recommend the book RESTful Web Services published by O'Reilly.

Of course, we expect most people will use the services directly available from XBRL Cloud. However, there are other options.

Private Hosting

We will provide for you a private server managed by us, but sized specifically to your needs. This solution provides:

• 100% of the server, you will never wait for others
• The ultimate in security: no one else can access your server
• Completely managed: you don't have to worry about software upgrades. You can focus on your business-critical tasks

Self Hosting

You can install the services on your own machines. We don't recommend this unless you are a very large corporation that needs absolutely top performance, limited internet traffic, or your own security

Please Contact Us if you need one of these custom solutions.