# cPanel API 2 - Return Data

Warning:
The cPanel API 2 system is deprecated. We **strongly** recommend that you use [UAPI](/cpanel/introduction) instead of cPanel API 2.

## Introduction

cPanel API 2 outputs data in JavaScript Object Notation (JSON).

## Basic return data

cPanel API 2's JSON output returns as hashes or arrays of hashes, and is never more than two layers deep.

For example, the [`Email::loadfilter`](/cpanel-api-2/cpanel-api-2-modules-email/cpanel-api-2-functions-email-loadfilter/) function's output is typical cPanel API 2 output:


```
{
  "cpanelresult": {
    "apiversion": 2,
    "func": "loadfilter",
    "data": [
      {
        "filtername": "coffee",
        "actions": [
          {
            "dest": "/dev/null",
            "number": 1,
            "action": "save"
          }
        ],
        "rules": [
          {
            "number": 1,
            "match": "is",
            "part": "$header_from:",
            "opt": "or",
            "val": "user@example.com"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "event": {
      "result": 1
    },
    "module": "Email"
  }
}
```

### Function call information

The following table lists arrays, hashes, and parameters that **always** appear in cPanel API 2 JSON output.

Warning:
With the exception of the `result` parameter, the function documents' lists of return parameters do **not** list these items.

| Parameter, Array, or Hash | Description |
|  --- | --- |
| `cpanelresult` | The hash of return output. |
| `apiversion` | The cPanel API version that you called. |
| `func` | The function name. |
| `data` | The main return output array. Most functions return their output parameters within this array. |
| `event` | An array of information about the function call itself. All cPanel API 2 functions include the `result` parameter in this array. |
| `module` | The module name. |


### View output in a Data::Dumper syntax

To view cPanel API 2 output in `Data::Dumper` syntax, use the API Tracer. This utility dumps cPanel API output to the `error_log` file.

Warning:
Do **not** use the API Tracer utility on a production server. This utility presents a **security risk** because it can log password information.