# Polkadot REST API Overview

The [Polkadot REST API](https://paritytech.github.io/polkadot-rest-api/#overview) exposes REST-style access to supported Polkadot-based networks. Start with the base URL for the network you want to query, authenticate with your Blockdaemon API key, then append the `/v1/` method path for the data you need.

---

## Step 1: Access Kusama via the Polkadot REST API
Use the following native access endpoints:

- **Network:** Kusama Mainnet  
  **Request Type:** GET  
  ```undefined
  https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1
  ```
- **Network:** Kusama Mainnet Asset Hub  
  **Request Type:** GET  
  ```undefined
  https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/assethub/rest/v1
  ```

## Step 2: Authenticate Your Request
Authenticate your request using your API key:

**Bearer Token**  
```undefined
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
```

## Step 3: Add a REST API Method
Add a REST API method at the end of the query, including the required `/v1/` prefix:

> Learn more about Kusama REST API methods [here](https://docs.blockdaemon.com/docs/kusama-via-polkadot-rest-api#).

```undefined
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1/YOUR_METHOD
```

## Example Request
Here is a cURL example using **GET /v1/blocks/head/header** to retrieve the header of the most recently finalized block on Kusama Mainnet:

### cURL
```curl
curl -X GET \
https://svc.blockdaemon.com/kusama/mainnet/native/kusama/rest/v1/blocks/head/header \
-H 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
```

### Typical Response
```json
{
    "parentHash": "0xce2dacd2a92d2ae272786c9fcca3f7bd831ef0f87fca252442a0e698a3366490",
    "number": "11557833",
    "stateRoot": "0xec013a64ddfc05f4a1fcc84e2a15d6e158fbd88fce541b7b96ed40c3d4ba6c40",
    "extrinsicsRoot": "0x4ebf6e119dff512925598aade56145811aa09f459f816f8e77dc8b9c396de2ec"
}
```