---
title: Quick start guide: C# ASP.NET
slug: graph/docs/quick-start-c
createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:30:20.147Z
---

Connect a C# ASP.NET Core application to Optimizely Graph and retrieve Optimizely CMS 12 content through a Web API. This hub article links to two end-to-end quick starts: a lightweight manual GraphQL client and the recommended StrawberryShake-based integration. Pick the approach that matches the project size, type-safety needs, and tolerance for hand-written serialization code.

Choose an approach based on the project needs.

- [Build an ASP.NET Core API (manual GraphQL client)](docId\:z0ZIvji4vgfsusDhaIG3T) – A lightweight configuration with minimal tooling and full control over the GraphQL queries and response models. Suits small projects, prototypes, or learning how GraphQL requests work.
- [Build an ASP.NET Core API using StrawberryShake (recommended)](docId\:loAsrC-g2BvuDPPBs4qzy) – A production-ready integration with strongly typed queries, automatic client generation, and compile-time validation. Reduces manual mapping code and improves maintainability for larger applications.

## Prerequisites

Complete the following before starting either quick start. The same requirements apply to both approaches.

- Install the [.NET 8 SDK](https://dotnet.microsoft.com/en-us/download/dotnet/8.0).
- Verify access to an Optimizely Graph endpoint.
- Obtain a valid Graph authentication URL.