# Claude Platform Everything [[Anthropic]] gives you to build with [[Claude]], in one place: an API, a web console, docs, a cookbook of examples, and official SDKs. If you're writing software that talks to Claude, this is home base. It lives at platform.claude.com (the address that used to be console.anthropic.com). The name covers a few distinct things people tend to blur together. | Piece | What it is | |---|---| | [[Claude API]] | The RESTful API at `api.anthropic.com`: Messages, Batches, Files, Managed Agents | | [[Claude Console]] | The web UI for keys, billing, usage, workspaces, and the Workbench | | Docs | Guides, references, quickstarts | | Cookbook | Copy-paste recipes and working example code | | SDKs | Official client libraries — Python, TypeScript, Java, Go, C#, Ruby, PHP | ## How it fits together You sign up, land in the [[Claude Console]], and create an API key. That key authenticates your calls to the [[Claude API]]. The docs tell you what's possible; the cookbook shows you code that already works; the SDKs save you from hand-rolling HTTP requests. [[Claude Managed Agents]] is the newest layer on top; managed agent infrastructure running on the same platform. ## Direct vs cloud platforms You can reach Claude two ways. Straight through Anthropic gives you direct billing and the latest features first. Going through a cloud provider — AWS, Google Cloud, Azure — folds billing and auth into that provider's IAM instead. Pick direct for new projects and full feature access. Pick a cloud platform if you already have a commitment there, or specific compliance needs that make consolidated cloud billing worth it. ## References - Platform home: https://platform.claude.com/ - Docs: https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/home - Cookbook: https://platform.claude.com/cookbook/ - API overview: https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/api/overview ## Related - [[Claude]] - [[Claude Console]] - [[Claude API]] - [[Anthropic]] - [[Anthropic SDK]] - [[Anthropic CLI (ant)]] - [[Claude Code]] - [[Claude Managed Agents]]