> ## 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.

# Source Path

> Point Autorender at any public web server and deliver its images optimized — without moving a single file.

A **Source Path** points Autorender at any HTTP origin — your own server, a CDN, or a third-party host — and delivers its images transformed. The original asset stays exactly where it is.

## How does it work?

When a request hits your Autorender delivery URL, Autorender fetches the original from your configured base URL, applies the requested transforms, and serves the result.

```text theme={null}
Request  →  https://assets.autorender.io/{workspace}-{origin}/{file_path}
Fetch    →  {base_url}/{file_path}
Response ←  optimized, transformed image
```

## Create a source path

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to Autorender and open Sources.">
    Go to [app.autorender.io](https://app.autorender.io) and open the **Sources** page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create Source.">
    Set **Origin Type** to **Source Path**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the fields below and click Create Source.">
    The source is usable as soon as it is created.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Configuration fields

| Field                | Required | Description                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| :------------------- | :------: | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Origin Name**      |    Yes   | A short identifier for this source (letters, numbers, and hyphens only). Becomes part of your delivery URL: `https://assets.autorender.io/{workspace}-{origin}/{file_path}`. Example: `store-images`. |
| **Base URL**         |    Yes   | The root URL of your image server (e.g. `https://example.com/images`). Autorender appends the requested path to this when fetching the original.                                                      |
| **Canonical Header** |    No    | The request header Autorender reads to resolve the canonical host. Defaults to `x-forwarded-host`. Set this only if your origin routes on a specific host header.                                     |
| **Forward Header**   |    No    | When checked, Autorender forwards the incoming request's headers to your origin — use it if your server validates headers such as `Authorization` or a custom token.                                  |

<Info>
  Origin names cannot be changed after creation. Pick a name that reflects the source (e.g. `store-images`, `cdn-prod`).
</Info>

## Verify your delivery URL

Once the source is created, its assets are reachable at:

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

For a workspace ID of `aqucPWk0NG`, an origin name of `store`, and an image at `https://example.com/images/products/shoe.jpg`, the Autorender URL is:

```text theme={null}
https://assets.autorender.io/aqucPWk0NG-store/products/shoe.jpg
```

Add [transformation parameters](/docs/transformations/introduction) between the workspace-origin segment and the file path to resize, crop, or convert format. To set the width to **800 px** (`w_800`):

```text theme={null}
https://assets.autorender.io/aqucPWk0NG-store/w_800/products/shoe.jpg
https://assets.autorender.io/aqucPWk0NG-store/w_800,h_600,c_fill/products/shoe.jpg
```

Open the URL in your browser. A successful response means Autorender can reach your origin and the source is configured correctly.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Image transformations" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" iconType="solid" href="/docs/transformations/introduction">
    Resize, crop, and convert the images 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>

  <Card title="Connect a storage bucket" icon="database" iconType="solid" href="/docs/storage/introduction">
    Read assets from S3, GCS, or Azure instead of a web origin.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>