> This page is for Web API.

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# Instrument Discovery

The Web API requires the use of IB's contract ID ("`conid`") to uniquely specify instruments. Knowledge of a particular instrument's conid is required to retrieve intrument trading rules and market data, and also to submit orders.

The Web API offers several ways to retrieve our `conid` identifier, as well as well as all other attributes of the the instruments we offer for trading.

Note that IB `conids` are persistent for the life of an instrument. Therefore, we recommend retrieving `conids` and storing them locally prior to trading.