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

# POST Goal

> Create a custom goal event using API key authentication

Track custom goal events server-side using the API.

## Endpoint

```
POST /api/v1/goal
```

## Authentication

Requires API key authentication.

## Request body

| Field       | Type   | Required | Description                 |
| ----------- | ------ | -------- | --------------------------- |
| `event`     | string | Yes      | The goal event name         |
| `value`     | number | No       | Optional numeric value      |
| `visitorId` | string | No       | Visitor ID (if available)   |
| `sessionId` | string | No       | Session ID (if available)   |
| `path`      | string | No       | Page path (defaults to "/") |

## Request example

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://your-domain.com/api/v1/goal" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "event": "newsletter_signup",
    "value": 0,
    "visitorId": "visitor_123",
    "sessionId": "session_456",
    "path": "/newsletter"
  }'
```

## Response

### Success response (200)

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "message": "Goal event tracked successfully"
  }
}
```

### Error responses

#### Missing event (400)

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "error",
  "error": {
    "code": 400,
    "message": "event parameter is required"
  }
}
```

#### Unauthorized (401)

```json theme={null}
{
  "status": "error",
  "error": {
    "code": 401,
    "message": "Unauthorized. Invalid or missing API key."
  }
}
```

## Use cases

* **Server-side tracking** - Track events from your backend
* **Webhook handlers** - Track goals from webhook events
* **Background jobs** - Track goals from scheduled tasks
* **API integrations** - Track goals from third-party APIs

## Examples

### Track purchase

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://your-domain.com/api/v1/goal" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "event": "purchase",
    "value": 99.99,
    "visitorId": "visitor_123",
    "path": "/checkout/success"
  }'
```

### Track form submission

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://your-domain.com/api/v1/goal" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "event": "form_submit",
    "visitorId": "visitor_123",
    "path": "/contact"
  }'
```

## Next steps

<Card title="POST Payment" icon="dollar-sign" href="/api-reference/payment">
  Learn how to record payments via API
</Card>