# API monitor

APIs can be monitored by creating an HTTP status-code monitor or a keyword monitor. An uptime monitor will only check the returned status code, while a keyword monitor can check for a specific string in the API response.

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If this is your first time setting up API monitoring, we recommend starting with our [Introduction to API monitoring](https://betterstack.com/community/guides/monitoring/what-is-api-monitoring/ ";_blank").
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### Creating an API monitor

- Go to **Monitors** → **Create monitor**.
- Change the **Alert us when the host above** selection to **Becomes unavailable**.
- Enter the API's URL in the text input.
- Go to **Advanced settings** → **Request parameters**.
- Select the HTTP method you want to use for the requests.
- (Optional) Include [request body parameters](https://betterstack.com/docs/uptime/request-parameters-headers-and-http-authentication/) in the request body.
- Select an authentication method: either use request headers, or HTTP authentication.
- Click **Create monitor**.