{"slug":"technical-reference","title":"Technical reference","tags":["tailscale"],"agent_summary":"Last validated: May 7, 2025","trigger_phrases":[],"runnable":false,"markdown":"\r\n# Technical reference\r\n\r\nLast validated: May 7, 2025\r\n\r\nThese topics provide technical reference about Tailscale tools and features in your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet).\r\n\r\n## [Access control policies](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference\\#access-control-policies)\r\n\r\nYou can use access control policies to enforce access for users, devices, and applications in your tailnet.\r\n\r\n[**Syntax reference for the tailnet policy file** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nReference syntax for the tailnet policy file.](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/syntax/policy-file) [**ACL policy examples** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nView example ACL policies for common scenarios.](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/examples/acls)\r\n\r\n## [Tailscale command line interface (CLI)](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference\\#tailscale-command-line-interface-cli)\r\n\r\nThe Tailscale client includes a built-in CLI tool you can use to manage and troubleshoot your device within your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet).\r\n\r\n[**Tailscale CLI** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nManage and troubleshoot your tailnet with the Tailscale command-line interface (Tailscale CLI).](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli)\r\n\r\n## [Tailscale application programming interface (API)](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference\\#tailscale-application-programming-interface-api)\r\n\r\nYou can use the Tailscale API to automate and manage various aspects of your tailnet.\r\n\r\n[**Tailscale API** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nExplore the Tailscale application programming interface (API).](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-api) [**OAuth clients** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nUse OAuth clients to provide ongoing access to the Tailscale API.](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/oauth-clients) [**tsnet** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nUse the tsnet package to embed Tailscale inside a Go program.](https://tailscale.com/docs/features/tsnet)\r\n\r\n## [Technical overviews and production best practices](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference\\#technical-overviews-and-production-best-practices)\r\n\r\nRead in-depth topics about Tailscale networking, security, and production best practices.\r\n\r\n[**Technical overviews** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nGet in-depth technical details about Tailscale.](https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts) [**Production best practices** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nFollow production and security best practices for deploying Tailscale.](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/best-practices/production)\r\n\r\n## [Terminology and concepts](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference\\#terminology-and-concepts)\r\n\r\nFamiliarize yourself with Tailscale terminology and concepts.\r\n\r\n[**Terminology and concepts** \\\\\r\n\\\\\r\nReview Tailscale terminology and concepts.](https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/glossary)\r\n\r\n![Project Logo](https://cdn.brandfetch.io/tailscale.com/fallback/lettermark/theme/dark/h/256/w/256/icon?c=1bfwsmEH20zzEfSNTed)\r\n\r\nAsk AI\r\n\r\nreCAPTCHA\r\n\r\nRecaptcha requires verification.\r\n\r\nprotected by **reCAPTCHA**\r\n","html":"<h1>Technical reference</h1>\n<p>Last validated: May 7, 2025</p>\n<p>These topics provide technical reference about Tailscale tools and features in your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet).</p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference#access-control-policies\">Access control policies</a></h2>\n<p>You can use access control policies to enforce access for users, devices, and applications in your tailnet.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/syntax/policy-file\"><strong>Syntax reference for the tailnet policy file</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nReference syntax for the tailnet policy file.</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/examples/acls\"><strong>ACL policy examples</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nView example ACL policies for common scenarios.</a></p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference#tailscale-command-line-interface-cli\">Tailscale command line interface (CLI)</a></h2>\n<p>The Tailscale client includes a built-in CLI tool you can use to manage and troubleshoot your device within your Tailscale network (known as a tailnet).</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-cli\"><strong>Tailscale CLI</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nManage and troubleshoot your tailnet with the Tailscale command-line interface (Tailscale CLI).</a></p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference#tailscale-application-programming-interface-api\">Tailscale application programming interface (API)</a></h2>\n<p>You can use the Tailscale API to automate and manage various aspects of your tailnet.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/tailscale-api\"><strong>Tailscale API</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nExplore the Tailscale application programming interface (API).</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/oauth-clients\"><strong>OAuth clients</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nUse OAuth clients to provide ongoing access to the Tailscale API.</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/features/tsnet\"><strong>tsnet</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nUse the tsnet package to embed Tailscale inside a Go program.</a></p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference#technical-overviews-and-production-best-practices\">Technical overviews and production best practices</a></h2>\n<p>Read in-depth topics about Tailscale networking, security, and production best practices.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/concepts\"><strong>Technical overviews</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nGet in-depth technical details about Tailscale.</a> <a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/best-practices/production\"><strong>Production best practices</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nFollow production and security best practices for deploying Tailscale.</a></p>\n<h2><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference#terminology-and-concepts\">Terminology and concepts</a></h2>\n<p>Familiarize yourself with Tailscale terminology and concepts.</p>\n<p><a href=\"https://tailscale.com/docs/reference/glossary\"><strong>Terminology and concepts</strong> \\\r\n\\\r\nReview Tailscale terminology and concepts.</a></p>\n<p><img src=\"https://cdn.brandfetch.io/tailscale.com/fallback/lettermark/theme/dark/h/256/w/256/icon?c=1bfwsmEH20zzEfSNTed\" alt=\"Project Logo\"></p>\n<p>Ask AI</p>\n<p>reCAPTCHA</p>\n<p>Recaptcha requires verification.</p>\n<p>protected by <strong>reCAPTCHA</strong></p>\n"}