> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.chift.eu/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# End-user connection

A **connection** links one of your end-users to one of their software packages. You can create it in 3 ways, depending on how much of the flow you want inside your own product.

New to the model? Read [How it works](/home) first. It defines connector, consumer, and connection in two minutes.

## Prerequisites

1. **An API key**, and a bearer token obtained from it. See [Authenticate with Chift API](/home/authentication).
2. **At least one active connector** on your account. See [Activate a connector](/platform/getting-started/activate-connector). Connectors you have not activated are invisible to the API and cannot be connected.

## Choose a connection mode

<Frame caption="Choose a connection mode in 2 questions.">
  <img className="mx-auto" src="https://mintcdn.com/chift/Qv8Nm0au-eTUq8m8/images/connection-mode-choice.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Qv8Nm0au-eTUq8m8&q=85&s=1b9c6697887c4122447dd74f7769c2ee" alt="Decision tree: if you do not show the connectors in your product, use the Chift connector-picker. If you show them, use the embedded connector-picker, which is recommended. To hide every Chift page, use Fully embedded." style={{ maxWidth: "690px" }} width="2760" height="1600" data-path="images/connection-mode-choice.png" />
</Frame>

Answer 2 questions:

1. **Do you show the list of connectors in your product?** If not, use the [Chift connector-picker](/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/chift-connector-picker). You build nothing. If yes, go to question 2.
2. **Do you want to hide every Chift page?** If not, use the [embedded connector-picker](/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/embedded-connector-picker). You build the connector list. This is the recommended mode. If yes, use [Fully embedded](/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/fully-embedded). You also build the credential forms. It is more work for a small gain, and only some connectors support it.

You can mix modes. For example, use Fully embedded for the connectors that support it and the embedded connector-picker for the others.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Chift connector-picker" icon="list" href="/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/chift-connector-picker">
    Chift shows the connectors and collects the credentials.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Embedded connector-picker" icon="table-cells" href="/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/embedded-connector-picker">
    Recommended. You show the connectors. Chift collects the credentials.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Fully embedded" icon="window-maximize" href="/unified-apis/guides/end-user-connection/fully-embedded">
    You show the connectors and collect the credentials.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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