Match the question to the data
The official data APIs require no authentication or API key. A company’s submissions file and its companyfacts file answer different questions; a filing alert does not replace either.
| List a company’s recent filings | SEC submissions API | Company metadata, filing metadata and pointers to older history. |
| Read a financial concept | SEC companyconcept or companyfacts | Tagged XBRL observations, units, periods and filing references. |
| Read a report or an exhibit | SEC EDGAR Archives | The actual submitted document or attachment. |
| Build a broad local dataset | SEC nightly bulk archives | JSON snapshots for large-scale backfills. |
| Receive incoming filing posts | A verified event stream | Transported events; not automatically parsed statements or full archive search. |
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Use a tested first step
Our Python guide parses a real SEC submissions response saved on 2026-11-14, checks the parallel arrays and builds primary-document URLs. The network request returned HTTP 200. The example lists filing metadata; it does not claim to parse the linked reports.
Keep the 10-digit zero-padded CIK in a data API URL. In an archive path, use the unpadded CIK and the accession number without dashes. The original dashed accession remains the useful filing identifier in your database.
Read the specific integration guide
Python submissions
Fetch a company record and convert the parallel columns safely.
Read guide ↗Companyfacts and XBRL
Keep units, periods and accession references with each value.
Read guide ↗Filing documents
Find the primary report and then inspect its exhibits.
Read guide ↗Bulk data
Backfill efficiently and record snapshot timing.
Read guide ↗Access options
Compare official APIs, document services and event streams by task.
Read guide ↗Ownership and scope
This developer resource is owned by Synoptic. It is not the SEC and has no SEC affiliation. We explain official access first and describe Synoptic as an optional event-delivery component.
The Synoptic workflow separates verified stream metadata from account-dependent post access. No latency benchmark, parsed-financials capability or investment result is established by this guide.
Source notes
- SEC EDGAR API documentation ↗
Official submissions, XBRL, bulk data, update schedule and access requirements.
- SEC Developer Resources ↗
Official archive, index and RSS options; fair-access request limit.
- Synoptic SEC stream ↗
Canonical non-delayed-labelled stream. Public MCP metadata checked 2026-11-14; latency was not measured.
The Synoptic workflow
Explore the SEC event stream
For new-filing monitoring, verify the stream and your account access.
Explore the SEC event stream