# Assets API reference

With inbuilt Digital Asset Management (DAM), the Asset model is included with every project.

## Overview

The Asset model is included with every project, can be modified with custom [Field Types](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/schema/field-types), and are [localized](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/content-api/localization) by default, but cannot be deleted.

While most commonly used for photos, can support any file type including audio files, zip files, and more.

The Asset type extends the [system fields](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/schema/system-fields).

Here are some links that might help you:

| Document name                                                       | Description                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Fetching assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/fetching-assets)       | Learn about the 4 query types that Hygraph automatically creates for every asset. |
| [Referencing assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/referencing-assets) | Learn how to query assets in relation to a model in your schema.                  |
| [Transformations](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/transformations)       | Learn about asset transformations.                                                |
| [Uploading assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/uploading-assets)     | Learn how to upload assets by file and by remote URL.                             |
| [Updating assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/updating-assets)       | Learn how to use the `updateAsset` mutation.                                      |
| [Deleting assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/deleting-assets)       | Learn how to delete assets using the `deleteAsset` mutation.                      |
| [Publishing assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/publishing-assets)   | Learn how to use the `publishAsset` and `unpublishAsset` mutations.               |
| [Localized assets](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/localized-assets)     | Learn about asset localization.                                                   |
| [Embedded types](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/embedded-types)         | Learn how to ember assets into Rich Text fields.                                  |

## Which asset system does my project use?

At the moment, Hygraph projects can use one of two asset systems. Projects created after February 2024 will use the new **Hygraph Asset Management** system, while projects that are older than that will use the **Legacy asset system**.

**Warning:**

If your project is a clone of an older project, it will use the legacy asset system.

To learn what system your project uses, check the asset upload popup in the UI.

![UI asset upload](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/api-reference/assets/ui-asset-upload.png)

If your project shows this, you are using the legacy asset system:

![UI - Legacy Asset system](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/api-reference/assets/legacy-asset-system-ui.png)

If your project shows this, you are using the Hygraph Asset Management system:

![UI - Hygraph Asset Management system](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/api-reference/assets/hygraph-asset-management-system-ui.png)

Another way to quickly see which asset system your project uses is to navigate to **Project Settings > Endpoints**, and look for the **Assets** section.

If you see this, your project uses the new Hygraph Asset Management system:

![Hygraph Asset Management system](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/api-reference/assets/hygraph-asset-management-system.png)

If you see this, your project uses the Legacy Asset system:

![Legacy Asset system](https://hygraph.com/images/docs/api-reference/assets/legacy-asset-system.png)

**Pro Tip:**

While both systems are available, our documentation will provide information on how to work with each. You will find this in our API Reference for Assets in the [transformations](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/transformations), [asset upload](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/uploading-assets), and [localization](https://hygraph.com/docs/api-reference/assets/localized-assets) documents.

Simply identify the system your project uses and proceed with that documentation.