> ## 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.

# Continent

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

The Continent object represents a geographical continent in the Byteful system. It serves as the highest level in the geographic hierarchy and contains essential information about continents including their identifiers, names, and aliases.

## Key Attributes

| Attribute         | Type   | Description                                                 |
| ----------------- | ------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `continent_id`    | string | Unique identifier for the continent (e.g., `eu` for Europe) |
| `continent_name`  | string | Full name of the continent (e.g., `Europe`)                 |
| `continent_alias` | string | Alternative identifier or shorthand for the continent       |

## Object Relationships

The Continent object sits at the top of the geographic hierarchy in the Byteful API:

* **Countries**: Each continent contains multiple countries
* **Subdivisions**: Indirectly related through countries
* **Cities**: Indirectly related through countries and subdivisions
* **Proxies**: Proxies can be filtered or grouped by continent through their country associations

```mermaid theme={null}
graph TD
    Continent --> Countries
    Countries --> Subdivisions
    Subdivisions --> Cities
    Countries --> Proxies
```

## Related Endpoints

| Endpoint                                                      | Description                                |
| ------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `GET /public/user/continent/retrieve/{continent_id}`          | Retrieve a specific continent by ID        |
| `GET /public/user/continent/search`                           | Search continents using various filters    |
| `GET /public/user/country/search?continent_id={continent_id}` | Find countries within a specific continent |

## Example Response

```json theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "continent_id": "eu",
    "continent_name": "Europe",
    "continent_alias": "eu"
  },
  "message": "Continent successfully retrieved."
}
```

## Usage Notes

* Continents provide the broadest geographic categorization in the system
* The `continent_id` typically uses a two-letter code (e.g., `eu`, `na`, `as`)
* When filtering proxy locations, using continent-level filtering provides the broadest geographic targeting
* The continent object is primarily used for reference and categorization rather than direct operations
* For more precise geographic targeting, use the country, subdivision, or city objects instead

## Continent Codes

The system uses the following standard continent codes:

| Code | Continent     |
| ---- | ------------- |
| `af` | Africa        |
| `an` | Antarctica    |
| `as` | Asia          |
| `eu` | Europe        |
| `na` | North America |
| `oc` | Oceania       |
| `sa` | South America |

These continent codes are consistent throughout the API and provide a standardized way to reference continents when performing geographic filtering or categorization.