# Vizion Documentation

## Guides
- [Common questions](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/common-issues.md): Get answers to top questions about Vizion's Container Tracking API
- [Demo environment](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/demo-environment.md)
- [Input options for tracking containers](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/input-options.md): Decide which input option fits your use case
- [Overview](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/overview.md): What is Vizion's Container Tracking API?
- [Quick start](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/quick-start.md): Use cURL to get started with Vizion's Container Tracking API
- [Postman collection](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/use-the-vizion-postman-collection.md): Work with the Vizion Container Tracking API in Postman, an API platform for building and using APIs
- [BoxTrack Container Tracking App](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/vizion-container-tracking-app.md)
- [Webhook security](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/webhook-security.md): Ways to secure your connection to the data you are receiving from Vizion
- [Airtable extension](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/airtable.md): Work with Vizion's Container Tracking API in your Airtable base
- [No Code Workbook](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/no-code-workbook.md): Discover the power of effortless container tracking with Vizion's No Code Workbook
- [Power BI](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/power-bi.md): Create a basic dashboard in Power BI using Vizion data
- [Zapier app](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/zapier.md): Work with Vizion's Container Tracking API in Zapier
- [Configurable tracking frequency](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/configurable-tracking-frequency.md): What is configurable tracking frequency and how to adjust the update interval
- [Continuous Master Bill of Lading and Booking Processing](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/continuous-mbl-processing.md): Feature to continue checking for child container references up until a vessel departure milestone from the origin port
- [Customs Clearance API](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/customs-clearance.md): What is the Customs Clearance API and why is it useful
- [DCSA Event Code Types](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/dcsa-event-code-types.md): What are the DSCA event code types for each supported journey type of a milestone
- [DCSA Event and Location Codes](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/dcsa-milestones.md): Feature that creates a codified milestone in accordance to DCSA guidance and best practices, minimizing the dependence on maintaining a list of standardized event descriptions.
- [Duplicate prevention](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/duplicate-prevention.md): Explanation of feature to prevent duplicate references
- [Enhanced Location Reporting](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/enhanced-locations.md): Milestone location enhancement that will include SMDG, BIC, SPLC and FIRMS codes
- [Exception Alerts](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/exception-alerts.md): This guide provides a practical, step-by-step walkthrough for subscribing to webhook events, configuring sources, and handling callback payloads
- [More features](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/additional-features.md)
- [Auto-unsubscribe](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/auto-unsubscribe.md): How the Vizion API automatically unsubscribes a reference at end of the container's journey
- [Container Trace](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/container-trace.md)
- [Supported Carriers](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/supported-carriers.md)
- [Create reference via Auto Carrier Identification](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/track-by-aci.md): Details how containers are tracked in our system by using auto carrier identification
- [Bill of lading number formatting](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/formatting-bl.md): Difference between valid and invalid master bill of lading numbers.
- [Create reference via Bill of Lading](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/track-by-bl.md): Details how containers are tracked in our system by using a master bill of lading number, and how containers are identified in association to their master bill of lading with parent and child references
- [Parent and child references](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/parent-and-child.md)
- [Create reference via Booking Number](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/track-by-booking.md): Details how containers are tracked in our system by using a booking number
- [Bill of lading not returned](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/bl-not-included.md): Explanation of why the bill of lading is not made available in updates when tracking by container ID and carrier code
- [Create reference via Carrier Code](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/track-by-carrier-code.md): Details how containers are tracked in our system using Container ID and carrier code as input
- [Data Explorer](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/data-explorer.md)
- [Globe Explorer](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/globe-explorer.md)
- [Tradeview Overview](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/overview-tradeview.md)
- [Universal Search](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/universal-search.md)
- [Data does not match carrier site](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/data-does-not-match-carrier-site.md): Understand why updates do not return the latest data to match the carrier site
- [No data returned](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/general-troubleshooting.md): Steps for troubleshooting references that are not returning the expected data
- [Check reference status](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/reference-status.md): Definitions for each possible reference update status
- [Retrieve missed updates](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/system-down.md): What to do if your system was down and was not able to retrieve specific reference updates
- [Billable references](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/billable-references.md)
- [Pricing plans](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/plans.md)
- [Status page](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/status-page.md)
- [Support](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/support.md)
- [Core milestone events](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/core-milestones.md): Events that Vizion attempts to include in all payloads in the order in which they will appear
- [Data sources](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/data-sources.md): Vizion's API provides milestones that contain a source property indicating the data source of the event
- [Rail](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/rail.md): With intermodal rail tracking enabled, container milestones reported by the railways will be included in the API's reference update payload, providing comprehensive insights into the shipment process
- [Ports and terminals](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/terminals.md): Optimize your shipment data accuracy with Vizion’s Pro plan, offering additional milestones like 'Free time to expire' and 'Available for pickup' directly from terminal operators, reducing reliance on carriers
- [Standardized milestone events](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/standardized-milestones.md): Information on how Vizion standardizes event names and full list of standardized core milestone events
- [ETAs](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/etas.md): How to find estimated time of arrival to destination port in payload
- [ETDs](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/etds.md): How to find estimated time of departure or shipping from the origin port in payload
- [Formatting](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/formatting.md): Additional details on the formatting of specific fields in the update payload, including timestamps and container_iso values
- [Update payload](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/understand-update-payload.md): Structure of the real-time, standardized, and detailed container milestone events delivered by the Vizion API in JSON format
- [Top Level Locations](https://docs.vizionapi.com/docs/top-level-locations.md): Defining the four locations available in each reference update payload

## API Reference
- [List carriers](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/carrier_list.md): Get all carriers. Returns all supported carriers, and the corresponding `carrier_code` and `scac` (**deprecated**) values.
- [Create a new reference](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_create.md): Create a reference to begin tracking per the [configured cadence](doc:configurable-tracking-frequency).  Related docs: - [Quick start](doc:quick-start)
- [Unsubscribe a reference](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_deactivate.md): Unsubscribe a reference to stop tracking.  Once unsubscribed, a reference is considered "deactivated" and the API will no longer create updates for the given reference.  - If present, all reference children will be unsubscribed.  - If a `callback_url` was provided, webhook updates will no longer be sent.
- [List reference lifecycle events](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_events_list.md): Returns the lifecycle event log for a given reference id.  The lifecycle log is an append-only record of significant events for a reference — creation, deactivation, reactivation, extraction attempts, reference updates, and estimated event changes. Events are retained for 18 months.  Pagination is cursor-based: pass the returned `next_cursor` as the `cursor` query parameter to fetch the next page. When there are no further results, `next_cursor` is `null`.  Related docs: - [Reference events](doc:reference-events)
- [Get reference](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_get.md): Returns a reference for a given id.
- [List active references](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_list.md): List all `active` references, sorted by creation date (newest first).
- [List container trace](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_trace_list.md): > ⚠️ Pro Tier Only For access, please [contact support](https://share.hsforms.com/1B6wNyBBSR6uMotj--8Z_0Q56czk).  Returns an array of vessel movements for a given reference id.   Vessel Movements are identified using the latest update.
- [List reference updates](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_updates_list.md): Returns updates for a given reference id.  Related docs: - [Quick start](doc:quick-start) - [Check reference status](doc:reference-status) - [Common issues and steps to troubleshoot](doc:common-issues)
- [Remove tag from a reference](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_tag_remove.md): Remove the association between a tag and a reference.
- [Add tags to a reference](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference_tags_add.md): Associate one or more tags with a reference.
- [Create a tag](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_create.md): Create a new tag.
- [Delete tag](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_delete.md): Delete a tag. This removes the tag from all associated references.
- [Get tag](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_get.md): Returns a tag for a given id.
- [List tags](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_list.md): List all tags.
- [List references for a tag](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_references_list.md): Returns all references associated with a given tag.
- [Update tag](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tag_update.md): Update a tag's name.
- [Test callback integration](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/webhook_trigger_test.md): Trigger a test Status Update to the specified `callback_url`.   Related docs: - [Webhooks](ref:webhooks) - [HMAC validation](ref:authentication#verifying-a-vizion-hmac-signature) - [Custom Webhook authentication](doc:webhook-security#custom-authentication) - [HTTP status codes](ref:status-codes)
- [Authentication](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/authentication.md)
- [Carriers](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/carriers.md)
- [Introduction](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/introduction.md): Get real-time container tracking data via API
- [IP addresses](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/ips.md): Ensure your integration securely communicates with Vizion.
- [Pagination](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/pagination.md)
- [Reference Events](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/reference-events.md): Visibility into the lifecycle of a reference.
- [Status codes](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/status-codes.md): Vizion API's HTTP response codes
- [Tagging](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/tagging.md): Organize and categorize references with tags.
- [Webhook Events](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/webhooks-events.md): Subscribing to notifications and alerts through webhooks.
- [Webhooks](https://docs.vizionapi.com/reference/webhooks.md): Automatically receive tracking updates as soon as they are available.

## Recipes
- [Add Container Trace response to a map](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/add-container-trace-response-to-a-map-1.md)
- [Check number of billable references created between start and end date](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/check-number-of-billable-references-created-between-start-and-end-date.md)
- [Create reference using HTML input values](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/create-reference-using-html-input-values.md)
- [Filter for specific milestones](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/filter-for-specific-milestones.md)
- [Find Vizion carrier code from carrier scac](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/find-vizion-carrier-code-from-carrier-scac.md)
- [HMAC Authentication - NodeJS/TypeScript with Express](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/hmac-authentication-nodejstypescript-with-express.md)
- [Map Vizion milestones to TMS events using DCSA event and location codes](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/map-vizion-milestones-to-tms-events-using-dcsa-event-and-location-codes.md)
- [Receive notification when reference has been unsubscribed](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/receive-notification-when-reference-has-been-unsubscribed.md)
- [Retrieve most recent reference update](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/retrieve-most-recent-reference-update.md)
- [Return references with no update payloads](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/return-references-with-no-update-payloads.md)
- [Store metadata in callback URL](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/store-metadata-in-callback-url.md)
- [Use DCSA Event & Location codes to filter for events at POL](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/use-dcsa-event-location-codes-to-filter-for-events-at-pol.md)
- [Use pagination to retrieve all references](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/use-pagination-to-retrieve-all-references.md)
- [Validating Vizion payload](https://docs.vizionapi.com/recipes/validating-vizion-payload.md)

## Pages
- [Videos](https://docs.vizionapi.com/videos.md)

## Changelog
- [January 9, 2026 - January 23, 2026](https://docs.vizionapi.com/changelog/january-9-2026-january-23-2026.md)
- [December 26, 2025 - January 9, 2026](https://docs.vizionapi.com/changelog/december-26-2025-january-9-2026.md)
- [December 5, 2025 - December 26, 2025](https://docs.vizionapi.com/changelog/december-5-2025-december-26-2025.md)
- [November 21, 2025 - December 5, 2025](https://docs.vizionapi.com/changelog/november-21-2025-november-21-2025.md)
- [November 7, 2025 - November 21, 2025](https://docs.vizionapi.com/changelog/november-7-2025-november-21-2025.md)