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

# ASN

> Understanding the ASN object and its role in the Byteful API

The ASN (Autonomous System Number) object represents a network or group of networks operated by a single organization in the Byteful system. ASNs are globally unique identifiers assigned to organizations that control blocks of IP addresses, such as internet service providers, hosting companies, and large enterprises.

## Key Attributes

| Attribute              | Type    | Description                                                                           |
| ---------------------- | ------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `asn_id`               | integer | The unique identifier for the ASN (e.g., 7018 for AT\&T)                              |
| `asn_name`             | string  | The name of the organization that owns the ASN                                        |
| `asn_type`             | string  | Category of the ASN (e.g., isp, hosting, business, cdn, education, gov)               |
| `asn_rir`              | string  | Regional Internet Registry that assigned the ASN (arin, ripe, apnic, lacnic, afrinic) |
| `asn_ip_address_count` | integer | The number of IP addresses allocated to this ASN                                      |
| `country_id`           | string  | The primary country where the ASN is registered                                       |

## Object Relationships

The ASN object connects with several other objects in the Byteful API:

* **Proxies**: ASNs are assigned to specific proxies, determining their network identity
* **IP Addresses**: Each IP address belongs to an ASN
* **Subnets**: Groups of IP addresses within an ASN
* **Services**: Proxy services may be filtered or targeted by ASN
* **Countries**: ASNs are typically associated with specific countries

```mermaid theme={null}
graph TD
    ASN --> Proxies
    ASN --> IPAddresses["IP Addresses"]
    ASN --> Subnets
    Country --> ASN
    ASN --> Services
```

## Related Endpoints

| Endpoint                                        | Description                                 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `GET /public/user/asn/retrieve/{asn_id}`        | Retrieve a specific ASN by ID               |
| `GET /public/user/asn/search`                   | Search ASNs using various filters           |
| `GET /public/user/proxy/search?asn_id={asn_id}` | Find proxies associated with a specific ASN |

## Usage Notes

* ASNs provide important context about the quality, type, and reputation of proxies
* For residential proxies, you can target specific ASNs in the `/residential/list` endpoint
* For mobile proxies, you can target specific ASNs in the `/mobile/list` endpoint
* The `asn_ip_address_count` gives an indication of the size and potential diversity of IPs within an ASN

## ASN Type Categories

ASNs are categorized into several types, each with distinct characteristics:

| ASN Type    | Description                            | Examples                        |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------- |
| `isp`       | Consumer internet service providers    | AT\&T (7018), Comcast (7922)    |
| `hosting`   | Cloud and hosting providers            | AWS (16509), Cloudflare (13335) |
| `business`  | Enterprise/corporate networks          | Apple (714), Microsoft (8075)   |
| `cdn`       | Content delivery networks              | Akamai (20940), Fastly (54113)  |
| `education` | Universities and research institutions | MIT (3), Stanford (32)          |
| `gov`       | Government institutions                | US Department of Defense (721)  |

When selecting proxies for specific use cases, the ASN type often matters more than the specific ASN itself, as it indicates the general traffic pattern and reputation of the network.