# Key concepts

Before you start developing advanced geospatial solutions using CARTO, we recommend you take a few minutes to read about the key concepts you will use.

**Architecture and tools**

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/architecture" %}
[architecture](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/architecture)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/apis" %}
[apis](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/apis)
{% endcontent-ref %}

**Authentication and data**

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/connections" %}
[connections](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/connections)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/authentication-methods" %}
[authentication-methods](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/authentication-methods)
{% endcontent-ref %}

**Setting up data sources**

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/data-sources" %}
[data-sources](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/data-sources)
{% endcontent-ref %}

**Building your application: map layers, charts and filtering**

{% content-ref url="<https://github.com/CartoDB/gitbook-documentation/blob/master/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/carto-for-deck.gl>" %}
<https://github.com/CartoDB/gitbook-documentation/blob/master/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/carto-for-deck.gl>
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/charts-and-widgets" %}
[charts-and-widgets](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/charts-and-widgets)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/filtering-and-interactivity" %}
[filtering-and-interactivity](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/filtering-and-interactivity)
{% endcontent-ref %}

**AI-powered interaction**

{% content-ref url="key-concepts/ai-powered-map-interaction" %}
[ai-powered-map-interaction](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/ai-powered-map-interaction)
{% endcontent-ref %}

Once you have explored these concepts, we have prepared a [summary](https://docs.carto.com/carto-for-developers/key-concepts/summary) so that you're fully prepared to start building with CARTO.