What is Payload?

<YouTube id="ftohATkHBi0" title="Introduction to Payload — The open-source Next.js backend" />

Payload is the Next.js fullstack framework.

Write a Payload Config and instantly get a full Admin Panel, a database with migrations, REST and GraphQL APIs, authentication, access control, file storage, live preview, and more — all in one open-source TypeScript codebase you own and deploy anywhere.

<CardGroup> <Card title="Use Cases" description="See how teams use Payload for headless CMS, internal tools, commerce, and DAM workloads — and whether it fits yours." link="/docs/getting-started/use-cases" /> <Card title="Core Concepts" description="Get familiar with the high-level concepts Payload is built around before you write any code." link="/docs/getting-started/concepts" /> <Card title="Installation" description="Add Payload to a new or existing Next.js app and get the Admin Panel running in minutes." link="/docs/getting-started/installation" /> <Card title="The Admin Panel" description="Explore the auto-generated React UI that matches the shape of your data and extends with your own components." link="/docs/admin/overview" /> <Card title="Database & Schema" description="Direct DB access and ownership with migrations, transactions, and proper indexing across MongoDB and Postgres." link="/docs/database/overview" /> <Card title="REST & GraphQL APIs" description="Instant REST, GraphQL, and straight-to-DB Node.js APIs generated from your config." link="/docs/rest-api/overview" /> <Card title="Authentication" description="A full auth system you can use in your Payload app and reuse in your own frontends." link="/docs/authentication/overview" /> <Card title="Access Control" description="A deeply customizable access pattern that runs at the document, field, and operation level." link="/docs/access-control/overview" /> <Card title="File Uploads" description="Built-in file storage, image resizing, focal-point cropping, and media access control." link="/docs/upload/overview" /> </CardGroup>