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

# Entities

> Create and enrich entities — the unit of trust in the Vence Trust Graph.

# Entities

An **entity** is a person, business, or institution node in the Trust Graph. Every underwrite decision hangs off an entity.

## Lifecycle

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create or retrieve">
    `POST /v1/entities` — pass a stable `external_id` from your system.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link identity">
    `POST /v1/entities/{entity_id}/identity-links`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Record consent">
    `POST /v1/entities/{entity_id}/consents`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ingest cashflow">
    `POST /v1/entities/{entity_id}/transactions` and/or feature snapshots
  </Step>

  <Step title="Underwrite">
    `POST /v1/underwrite`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Audit">
    `GET /v1/entities/{entity_id}/audit-trail`
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Design tips

* Keep external IDs stable so sandbox and production graphs stay reconcilable.
* Prefer normalized transaction ingest over opaque blobs — features and policy both benefit.
* Outcomes from underwrite feed back into the graph; close the loop with `POST .../outcomes`.

## Related

* [Trust Graph](/platform/trust-graph)
* [Underwrite](/guides/underwrite)
* [API overview](/developers/api-overview)