# Use Cases
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/index.md

The use cases provide an overview of the currently supported endpoints for Mastercard Commercial Connect API.

|    Use Case Overview    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Use Cases                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Entity Hierarchy        | * [Get your entity identifier](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/entity-hierarchy/index.md#get-the-entity-identifier) * [Get your issuer and customer identifier](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/entity-hierarchy/index.md#get-the-descendant-entity-identifier)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Real card management    | * [Register a real card](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#register-a-real-card) * [Search real card details](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#search-real-card-details) * [Manage real cards](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#manage-real-cards) * [Update real card status](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#update-real-card-status) * [Replace a real card](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#replace-a-real-card) * [Delete a real card](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/rc/index.md#delete-a-real-card)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Virtual card management | * [Create a virtual card](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/vcn/index.md#create-a-virtual-card) * [Search virtual card details](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/vcn/index.md#search-virtual-card-details) * [Manage virtual cards](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/vcn/index.md#update-virtual-card-details) * [Update virtual card status](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/vcn/index.md#update-a-virtual-card-status) * [Delete a virtual card](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/vcn/index.md#delete-virtual-card)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
| Card Controls           | * [Manage real card authorization controls](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#manage-real-card-authorization-controls) * [Update virtual card controls](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#update-virtual-card-controls) * [How to use aging limit and period limit controls](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#how-to-use-the-aging-limit-and-period-limit-controls) * [Available balance](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#available-balance) * [Example of when to use the aging limit spend amount](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#example-of-when-to-use-the-aging-limit-spend-amount) * [Example of when to use the aging limit with other controls](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/card-controls/index.md#example-of-when-to-use-the-aging-limit-with-other-controls) |
| Reporting               | * [Authorization/clearing reporting](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/reporting/index.md)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Payments                | * [Initiate payment](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/payments/index.md#initiate-payment) * [Return payment status](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/use-cases/payments/index.md#return-payment-status)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |

## End-to-End Mastercard Commercial Connect API Process {#end-to-end-mastercard-commercial-connect-api-process}

Diagram vcnoverview

**Step 1:** The partner registers a real card.  

**Step 2-optional:** The partner searches for real card details.   

**Step 3-optional:** The partner updates the real card details, status, authorization controls, or contacts.   

**Step 4-optional:** The partner replaces a real card.  

**Step 5-optional:** The partner deletes a real card.   

**Step 6:** The partner creates a virtual card.   

**Step 7-optional:** The partner searches for virtual card details.   

**Step 8-optional:** The partner updates the virtual card authorization controls, card data, details, or status.  

**Step 9-optional:** The partner deletes a virtual card.  

## Error Responses {#error-responses}

See error codes and responses [here](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/code-and-formats/index.md).

## Next Steps {#next-steps}

Now that you have an understanding of the different use cases the service uses, proceed to the [API Reference](https://developer.mastercard.com/commercial-connect-api/documentation/api-reference/index.md) section to interact with all of our endpoints.