> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.method.security/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.method.security/_mcp/server.

# Objects

> How data is modeled in Method and how to search and investigate it with Explorer.

How data is modeled in Method's Ontology and how to search, filter, and investigate it using Explorer.

---

## Objects

### What is an Object?

Method's Ontology is a strongly typed data model that adds a semantic layer to data assets and their relations, making data legible to both users and AI. Every data entity in the Ontology is modeled as an **Object**: a typed, uniquely identifiable entity with defined properties and relationships.

Examples of what Method models as Objects:

* **Assets**: FQDNs, IP Addresses, Web Applications, Cloud Hosts
* **Entities**: Cloud IAM Identities, Organizational Units, Users
* **Vulnerabilities**: CVEs and other risk indicators

### Properties and Links

Every Object has properties and links. For example, a Web Application belongs to an Environment, has a Title and Application Protocol, and can be linked to Web Endpoints, Web Pages, URLs, or Software Applications.

### Object View

Every Object instance has an Object View for exploring its details:

![Object overview](/_fern-img/9a8e4770c32cd85d9e8df57ea1a71fcb0cf2f6884e6cb21fcfe7acc76934594a.webp)

* **Overview tab**: Properties, links, and related entities
* **Findings tab**: All open Findings on the Object, filterable by severity. Click a Finding to open its details in a panel overlay.
* **Sources tab**: How each property was discovered. Shows the command that produced the output, the input command and target, and a link to the Task Run that ran the automation.

![Object issues](/_fern-img/130749522c0b1a134a5cdd7449e649aaf2d64465cf9ec660c2d1678eb76d1549.webp)

![Object sources](/_fern-img/3801bec00d8a337ae4f393ce6dff3a81cf275ece1dce64f523a007532585bb81.webp)

---

## Explorer

Explorer is the search and investigation interface for your environments. Browse and filter across object types, then inspect specific assets using tabular and graph-based views.

![Explorer](/_fern-img/34c9b1720e603d2cf0115cc32466345387cc95937116d1ab9dc2cfde8c9dbe1e.webp)

![Explorer results](/_fern-img/7761d924b289b88eb254c0a74fc6820f5c6adec8589b6415118e779a575bfebd.webp)

### Capabilities

* **Search across environments**: Filter by tag, environment, Object or Finding type, and data type. Use additional filter groups to further narrow results.
* **Pivot through related objects**: Move from a single FQDN to its associated services, applications, and known findings to build a mental model of context and exposure.
* **Visualize connections**: Reference the relationship graph to see how assets are linked, helpful for understanding blast radius, dependencies, or chains of exposure.
* **Track historical trends**: View changes over time, such as new asset discovery rates and assessment frequency.

![Explorer filters](/_fern-img/f7bebd231d7fa3cc0aaf0b7d506b1df466bc46aef2715a3a3972ecf475a66e7e.webp)

Click a row to open the Object View and inspect details, links, provenance, and pivot to related entities.

> **Note**
>
> For a step-by-step guide to filtering, see [Using Filters in Explorer](/guides/explorer/filter-data). To start an Operation from Explorer,
> see [Send findings to an Operation](/guides/explorer/send-findings-to-an-operation).