Choose an Application Type
Before registering your app, identify the application type that matches how your app will authenticate users and access ERP.net APIs.
The application type describes how API access is performed:
- on behalf of a signed-in user
- on behalf of the application itself
- or using long-lived automation tokens
This choice determines which setup and authentication guidance applies later.
Application Type Overview
Choose the row that best describes how your app identifies users and accesses ERP.net APIs:
| App behavior | User involvement | How API access is performed | Application type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser-based app with no backend; users sign in | Internal users | API access is performed on behalf of the signed-in user | SPA Applications |
| Web app with backend; users sign in | Internal users | API access is performed on behalf of the signed-in user | Web (Confidential) Applications |
| Web app where users sign in for identification only | Internal and/or external users | API access is performed on behalf of the application | Web Portals |
| No user interaction; background integration or sync | None | API access is performed on behalf of the application | Service Applications |
| Scheduled or scripted jobs using long-lived tokens | None | API access is performed on behalf of the token | Automation |
Important notes:
- External (community) users are authenticated for identification only and never receive direct API access.
- When external users are involved, all API calls are performed on behalf of the application.
- If an app supports multiple user types, choose the application type based on how API access is performed, not who signs in.
What This Choice Affects
The selected application type determines:
- which authentication scenario applies
- whether tokens represent a user, an application, or a reference token
- which setup and implementation guides you should follow
You do not configure anything at this stage.
This step is only about choosing the correct documentation path.
Reporting, Analytics, and Data Export
Reporting, analytics, backups, and bulk exports are usage patterns, not separate application types.
They are typically implemented as:
- Service Applications for OAuth-based, short-lived access, or
- Automation for controlled, long-running or scheduled tasks
API selection (Domain API vs Table API) is handled in the next step.
Detailed Reference
For a full description of each application type and its expected behavior, see
Application Types.
Next Step
Once you have identified the correct application type, continue with
Choose the Right API.