---
title: "Explore Data Points"
description: "List the data points available for investment lists and read their metadata to choose the columns you need and use names and aliases correctly."
url: "https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/explore-data-points"
image: "https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/_og/d/c_Ocean.takumi,title_~RXhwbG9yZSBEYXRhIFBvaW50cyB8IEludmVzdG1lbnQgTGlzdCBBUEk,description_List+the+data+points+available+for+investment+lists+and+read+their+metadata+to+choose+the+columns+you+need+and+use+names+and+aliases+correctly.,props_eyJ0aGVtZSI6eyJtb2RlIjoibGlnaHQiLCJjb2xvcnMiOnsicHJpbWFyeSI6IiMwMDAwMDAifX19,p_Ii9pbnZlc3RtZW50LWxpc3QtYXBpL2V4cGxvcmUtZGF0YS1wb2ludHMi,s_PpW-l4_KgOdqcEMt.png"
---

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# Investment List API

Build the Investment List API into your digital experience for quick investment and earnings summaries.

# Explore Data Points

[View Markdown](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/explore-data-points.md)[Download Markdown](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/explore-data-points.md)

Data points are the columns of an investment list. You choose them in each request, and you can sort by them. This page explains how to list the available data points and how to read their metadata, so that you can choose the right ones.

For background on data points, see [Core Concepts](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/core-concepts#data-points).

## [List the Data Points](#list-the-data-points)

Use the data points endpoint to retrieve every data point that you can request. The request takes no query parameters or body, only your access token.

```text
GET /direct-web-services/v1/investment-list/data-points
```

The following request lists the data points.

```bash
curl --request GET \
  --url "https://www.us-api.morningstar.com/direct-web-services/v1/investment-list/data-points" \
  --header "accept: application/json" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer {token}"
```

Use the base URL for your region, as described in [Getting Started](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/getting-started).

The response is an array, with one object for each data point.

```json
[
  {
    "name": "shareClassInformation.symbol",
    "type": "string"
  },
  {
    "name": "instrumentIdentifiers.performanceId",
    "alias": "performanceId",
    "type": "string"
  },
  {
    "name": "instrumentIdentifiers.isin",
    "type": "string"
  }
]
```

## [Read the Metadata](#read-the-metadata)

Each data point has the following properties.

| Property | Description                                                                      |
| :------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| name     | The data point name, in the format <dataGroup>.<fieldName>. Use this value in dataPoints and sort. |
| alias    | An alternative name for the data point, where one exists. You can use the alias in place of the name in a request. |
| type     | The type of value returned for the data point: string, decimal, int or bool.     |

Unlike the data points in the screener APIs, these entries have no properties for operators, sortability or language and currency dependency.

## [Use the Metadata to Build a Request](#use-the-metadata-to-build-a-request)

### [Names and Aliases](#names-and-aliases)

Use the `name` of a data point in the `dataPoints` array. If a data point has an `alias`, you can use that instead. For example, `instrumentIdentifiers.performanceId` has the alias `performanceId`, so both of these requests ask for the same data point.

```json
"dataPoints": ["instrumentIdentifiers.performanceId"]
```

```json
"dataPoints": ["performanceId"]
```

The performance ID is always returned for every investment, under the key `performanceId`, whether or not you request it.

### [Types](#types)

The `type` tells you how to read the value in the response. Plan for values to be strings or numbers, and to be null where no value exists. See [Work with Results](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/work-with-results).

### [Limits and Sorting](#limits-and-sorting)

A request can include up to 50 data points. To sort the rows, name a data point in `sort`. It must also be in the `dataPoints` array of the request. See [Request an Investment List](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/request-an-investment-list).

### [Language and Currency](#language-and-currency)

The request has optional `languageId` and `currencyId` properties. The metadata doesn't show which data points depend on them.

## [Find the Data Point You Need](#find-the-data-point-you-need)

The response lists every available data point and has no parameters for searching or paging. To find the one you need:

-   **Search the names.** Names describe the value, so you can search the list for a keyword such as `return`, `isin` or `allocation`.
-   **Browse by data group.** The part of the name before the period is the data group, and related data points share one.
-   **Save the list.** Retrieve it once and search it in your own application, instead of calling the endpoint each time you build a request.

There are hundreds of data points. Some apply to funds and ETFs, such as asset allocation and category data points, and some to equities, such as company and valuation data points. The following data groups appear in the examples in this guide.

| Data Group                          | Example Data Points                                                              |
| :---------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| basicReference                      | basicReference.fundLegalName, basicReference.isin, basicReference.name, basicReference.domicile |
| instrumentIdentifiers               | instrumentIdentifiers.performanceId, instrumentIdentifiers.isin                  |
| shareClassInformation               | shareClassInformation.symbol, shareClassInformation.tradingCurrency              |
| trailingReturn                      | trailingReturn.trailing1YearReturn, trailingReturn.trailing5YearReturn           |
| dailyReturnsMostRecent              | dailyReturnsMostRecent.totalRet1DayDaily, dailyReturnsMostRecent.totalRetYtdDaily |
| assetAllocationBreakdown            | assetAllocationBreakdown.assetAllocEquityPercNet, assetAllocationBreakdown.assetAllocBondPercNet |
| countryAndRegionalExposureBreakdown | countryAndRegionalExposureBreakdown.equityRegionUnitedStatesPercLongRescaled     |
| marketCapitalBreakdown              | marketCapitalBreakdown.marketCapLargePercLongRescaled                            |
| morningstarEquitySectorsBreakdown   | morningstarEquitySectorsBreakdown.equityEconSectorTechnologyPercLongRescaled     |
| morningstarCategory                 | morningstarCategory.globalCategory                                               |
| companyInformation                  | companyInformation.legalName, companyInformation.standardName                    |

## [Entitlements](#entitlements)

The list contains the data points that are available for investment lists. Whether you can retrieve a data point for a particular investment depends on your entitlements. If you request a data point that you aren't entitled to, the investment is still returned without it, and `metadata.messages` lists the data points that couldn't be returned. See [Work with Results](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/work-with-results).

## [Next Steps](#next-steps)

-   [Request an Investment List](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/request-an-investment-list) shows how to use data points in a complete request.
-   [Example Lists](https://developer-beta.morningstar.com/investment-list-api/example-lists) has complete requests you can adapt.