# Routing & Controllers

All about Umbraco's routing pipeline & the types of Controllers used in Umbraco, how they work, and what they are used for.

## [Request Pipeline](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/request-pipeline)

Explains how Umbraco builds its URLs and how the URLs are mapped back to content items.

## [Routing Properties](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/routing-properties)

Describes the Umbraco special/reserved Property Type aliases that can be used to directly manipulate Umbraco's default routing pipeline. These special Property Type aliases can be useful when creating an Umbraco website.

## [Surface Controllers](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/surface-controllers)

What is a Surface Controller and how to use them?

## [Umbraco API Controllers](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/umbraco-api-controllers)

What is an API Controller and how to use them?

## [Custom Controllers (hijacking routes)](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/custom-controllers)

Creating custom controllers to have 100% full control over how your pages are rendered. Also known as: Hijacking Umbraco Routes

## [Custom Routes](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/custom-routes)

How to specify your own custom MVC routes in your Umbraco application?

## [Routes & Authentication](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/authorized)

Routing requirements for authenticated controllers for both front-end and the backoffice.

## [URL Tracking](https://docs.umbraco.com/umbraco-cms/13.latest/reference/routing/url-tracking)

Moving and renaming Umbraco documents will lead to URL redirects to be created.