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

# Introduction

> Nesting-as-a-service for CAD/CAM and sheet-fabrication software.

## What is NestAPI?

NestAPI is a hosted **nesting engine** you call over HTTPS. Send it the parts you need to
cut and the sheets (stock material) you have, and it returns an optimised layout that packs
the parts onto the sheets with minimal waste — ready to drive a laser, plasma, waterjet,
router, or punch.

It is built for teams who want production-grade nesting inside their own product without
building and maintaining a nesting engine themselves:

* **CAD/CAM and MES vendors** embedding nesting in their software
* **Sheet-metal, joinery, glass, and composites fabricators** automating job preparation
* **Quoting and estimating tools** that need fast material-usage figures

## What you can do

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Nest from DXF" icon="file-dxf" href="/guides/nesting-workflow">
    Submit base64-encoded DXF files and receive a packed layout.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Nest from geometry" icon="draw-polygon" href="/guides/geometry-types">
    Submit encoded or parametric geometry instead of files.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quote nesting" icon="calculator" href="/guides/quote-nesting">
    Get fast material-usage estimates for quoting.
  </Card>

  <Card title="1D / linear nesting" icon="ruler-horizontal" href="/guides/1d-nesting">
    Optimise cuts of bar, tube, and profile stock.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhook results" icon="webhook" href="/guides/webhooks">
    Receive results asynchronously when a nest completes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How it works, in one minute

1. **Authenticate** with an API key (`Authorization: Bearer <key>`).
2. **Submit** a nesting request — files or geometry, plus your sheets and settings.
3. The API returns a **`RequestId`** immediately; nesting runs asynchronously.
4. **Receive the result** at your webhook URL, or stream progress over SignalR.
5. **Fetch exports** (DXF, reports, and more) for the completed nest.

<Note>
  Nesting is asynchronous by design — real layouts can take seconds to minutes. You never
  hold a request open waiting; you get a `RequestId` and the result is delivered when ready.
  See the [nesting workflow](/guides/nesting-workflow).
</Note>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/authentication">
    Create a key and make your first authenticated call.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Quickstart" icon="rocket" href="/quickstart">
    Submit a DXF nest end-to-end in a few minutes.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>