With the Vault API, you can manage eDiscovery projects.
You can perform the following tasks:

- Create matters and set who has access to them.
- Place data on hold.
- Create and edit saved search queries.
- Start and monitor exports.

To set retention rules or audit Google Vault activity, use the
Vault app. For details, see
[the Vault Help Center](https://support.google.com/vault#topic=2739742).

The following list describes common terms used in the Vault API.

*[Matter](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters)*
:   A container for eDiscovery activity related to a specific case or
    investigation. A matter includes saved search queries, a list of accounts
    with data on hold, data exports, and a list of the accounts that can access
    the matter. A matter is represented by a
    [Matter resource](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters#resource:-matter).

*[Hold](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.holds)*
:   A policy that prevents Google Workspace services from deleting data. Holds
    are typically used to preserve data for legal or investigation purposes.
    Holds override
    [retention rules](https://support.google.com/vault/answer/2990828).
    A hold is represented by a
    [Hold resource](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.holds#resource:-hold).

*[Saved search query](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.savedQueries)*
:   A query that you save in a matter. You can re-run a saved query to get data
    that changed since the last the query was run. You can also copy saved
    queries and reuse them in other matters. A saved query is represented by a
    [Saved query resource](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.savedQueries#resource:-savedquery).

*[Export](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.exports)*
:   A downloadable set of Google Workspace data that match your search
    query. An export is represented by an
    [Export resource](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/reference/rest/v1/matters.exports).

## Next steps

- To work with Vault resources, the account must have the
  [required Vault privileges](https://support.google.com/vault/answer/2799699)
  and access to the matter. To access a matter, the account must have created
  the matter, have the matter shared with them, or have the **View All
  Matters** privilege. For example, to download an export, an account needs
  the **Manage Exports** privilege and the matter shared with them.

- To learn about developing with Google Workspace APIs, including handling
  authentication and authorization, see
  [Get started as a Workspace developer](https://developers.google.com/workspace/guides/getstarted-overview).

- To learn how to configure and run a small Vault app, try
  a quickstart in [Python](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/quickstart/python) or
  [Java](https://developers.google.com/workspace/vault/quickstart/java).