# Create anonymized branch

`POST /projects/{project_id}/branch_anonymized`

Creates a new branch with anonymized data using PostgreSQL Anonymizer for static masking. This allows developers to work with masked production data. Optionally, provide `masking_rules` to set initial masking rules for the branch and `start_anonymization` to automatically start anonymization after creation. This combines functionality of updating masking rules and starting anonymization into the branch creation request.

**Note**: This endpoint is currently in Beta.

[Markdown for AI context](/guides/apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-create-project-branch-anonymized)

```bash title="REST API - curl"
curl "https://console.neon.tech/api/v2/projects/$PROJECT_ID/branch_anonymized" \
  -X POST \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $NEON_API_KEY"
```

Also available in

::::tabs
:::tab{title="SDK"}
```typescript
import { createNeonClient, raw } from '@neon/sdk';

const neon = createNeonClient({ apiKey: process.env.NEON_API_KEY });
const { data } = await raw.createProjectBranchAnonymized({
  client: neon.client,
  path: {
    project_id: process.env.PROJECT_ID
  }
});
```
:::

:::tab{title="Console"}
Console path: Projects → Branches → New branch
:::
::::

## Parameters

Project ID

`project_id`

string

The Neon project ID

## Request body

No field is required.

Branch create

`branch_create`

object

Masking rules

`masking_rules`

array

List of masking rules to apply to the branch.

Start anonymization

`start_anonymization`

booleandefault: false

If true, automatically start anonymization after the branch is created. Defaults to false.

Annotation value

`annotation_value`

object

A free-form map of string key-value pairs for attaching metadata to a resource (for example, a git commit reference). Maximum 50 entries.

## Response

201

Created a branch. An endpoint is only created if it was specified in the request.

::::tabs
:::tab{title="schema"}
Depth
:::

:::tab{title="example"}
:::
::::

## Errors

default

General error

This endpoint can return the standard Neon API error response.

Response fields

- `message` Required. Human-readable error message.
- `code` Required. Machine-readable error code.
- `request_id` Optional. Request identifier for debugging. You can provide one with the `X-Request-ID` header.

Retry guidance

If no response is returned, the request may still have reached the server. This is why retry safety depends on the method and status code.

Idempotent methods (`GET`, `HEAD`, `OPTIONS`) are generally safe to retry after a network error or timeout. Non-idempotent methods (`POST`, `PATCH`, `DELETE`, `PUT`) can change state, so avoid automatic retries unless your workflow can tolerate duplicate effects.

Responses with `423 Locked` or `503 Service Unavailable` are safe to retry. `423 Locked` means the resource is temporarily locked, usually because another operation is in progress.

## Related pages

- [Compare database schema](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-get-project-branch-schema-comparison.md)
- [Create branch](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-create-project-branch.md)
- [Create database](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-create-project-branch-database.md)
- [Create role](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-create-project-branch-role.md)
- [Delete branch](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-delete-project-branch.md)
- [Delete database](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-delete-project-branch-database.md)
- [Delete role](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-delete-project-branch-role.md)
- [Finalize branch restore from snapshot](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-finalize-restore-branch.md)
- [List branch endpoints](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-list-project-branch-endpoints.md)
- [List branches](./apis-sdks-reference-api-branches-list-project-branches.md)

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