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

# What is a data source & data provider?

> The two building blocks of onboarding: where data lands, and what is allowed to write it.

A **data source** is where onboarded data lands in Occtoo. Data can come from a PIM, ERP, CRM or any other system, and one system usually maps to several sources — an ERP might feed a prices source, a stock source and a customer source.

Each source holds **entries** (rows, identified by an entry ID) and **properties** (the fields those entries carry). Properties are created automatically the first time data arrives for them, or you can define them up front. See [Source properties](/guides/studio/sources/source-properties).

A **data provider** represents the integration application that writes to sources. Each provider has a provider ID and a secret, used to get a token for the ingest API. A provider can be granted access to several sources, and a source can accept data from several providers.

<Info>
  Sources and providers live on the same page, in two tabs: **Sources** and **Data providers**. Both tabs are under **Sources** in the left navigation.
</Info>

## Which route gets data in

There are two ways to put data into a source:

* **A data provider calling the ingest API** — the normal route for anything recurring. See [Import data](/guides/studio/sources/import-data).
* **The built-in CSV importer** — a manual upload in Studio, no provider needed. See [Import data from a CSV file](/guides/studio/sources/manual-import).

<Info>
  Follow the quick start guide to get data onboarded end to end: [Get data into Occtoo](/get-started/get-data-into-occtoo).
</Info>

## Sharing IDs between sources

Sources that describe the same thing under the same entry IDs can be linked with **Shares ID with**. That link is what lets a card combine properties from several sources into one view. See [Create a source](/guides/studio/sources/add-a-data-source).