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

# Introduction

> Connect an existing storage bucket to Autorender and transform its assets in place — no migration, no re-upload.

Connecting external storage lets Autorender read assets straight from your own bucket or container and deliver them transformed. You keep your files where they are; Autorender fetches an object only when a delivery URL requests it.

You can connect external storage for:

* Serving product images from an S3 bucket without copying them into Autorender.
* Adding on-the-fly resizing and format conversion to assets already sitting in Google Cloud Storage or Azure Blob Storage.
* Delivering images from any public web server through a [Source Path](/docs/storage/source-path).

## Supported providers

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Amazon S3" icon="aws" iconType="brands" href="/docs/storage/amazon-s3">
    Connect an S3 bucket or any S3-compatible service.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Cloud Storage" icon="google" iconType="brands" href="/docs/storage/google-cloud-storage">
    Connect a GCS bucket with a service account key.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Azure Blob Storage" icon="microsoft" iconType="brands" href="/docs/storage/azure-blob">
    Connect a Blob container with a connection string.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Connect a source in the dashboard

Every provider follows the same three steps in the dashboard. The credentials you enter differ per provider — see each provider's page for its field mapping.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to Autorender.">
    Open [app.autorender.io](https://app.autorender.io).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open Sources from the sidebar.">
    The Sources page lists every source connected to your workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Connect (or Create Source) and pick your provider.">
    Choose Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, or Azure Blob Storage, then fill in the provider's fields.
  </Step>
</Steps>

![External storage configuration](https://assets.autorender.io/LOKVTtKVGb/doc1/external-storage-s3.png)

The source is usable as soon as you create it — the first delivery URL that references it triggers the first read from your bucket.

## Access your assets

Once a source is connected, every asset in the bucket is reachable at this URL structure:

```text theme={null}
https://assets.autorender.io/{workspace}-{origin}/{transforms}/{file_path}
```

* `workspace` — your Autorender workspace ID (e.g. `aqucPWk0NG`).
* `origin` — the Origin Name you set when creating the source (e.g. `acme-assets`).
* `transforms` — optional transform parameters (e.g. `w_800,c_fill`). Omit this segment to serve the original.
* `file_path` — the object's path inside your bucket (e.g. `products/chair.jpg`).

To resize an asset to **800 px** wide (`w_800`):

```text theme={null}
https://assets.autorender.io/aqucPWk0NG-acme-assets/w_800/products/chair.jpg
```

## Credentials and access

<Info>
  Autorender opens a read-only connection to the single bucket or container you name. It reads an object only when a delivery URL requests it — nothing is copied or pre-fetched.
</Info>

We recommend a dedicated IAM user or service account scoped to read-only on that one bucket (e.g. `s3:GetObject` for S3, Storage Object Viewer for GCS) so a leaked credential can never reach anything else.

<Warning>
  Every credential, access key, and connection string is encrypted at rest and is never shown again after the source is created. Store your own copy before you submit.
</Warning>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Amazon S3" icon="aws" iconType="brands" href="/docs/storage/amazon-s3">
    Map your AWS bucket and IAM keys to Autorender's fields.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Source Path" icon="link" iconType="solid" href="/docs/storage/source-path">
    Point Autorender at any public web server instead of a bucket.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Image transformations" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" iconType="solid" href="/docs/transformations/introduction">
    Resize, crop, and convert the assets you deliver.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automatic format" icon="bolt" iconType="solid" href="/docs/optimization/automatic">
    Serve AVIF or WebP with a single URL token.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>