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Use GET /{entity_type}/{id} to retrieve a single entity. The response is the full entity object. 
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/W2741809807"
Cost: Free

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OpenAlex IDs

Every entity has a unique OpenAlex ID with a letter prefix indicating the type:
PrefixEntity
WWork
AAuthor
SSource
IInstitution
TTopic
KKeyword
PPublisher
FFunder
You can use the full URL or just the key: 
# Full URL
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/https://openalex.org/W2741809807"

# Key only (recommended)
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/W2741809807"
IDs are case-insensitive: W2741809807 and w2741809807 are equivalent.

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External ID lookups

You can look up entities using external identifiers. Pass the full external ID URL or use shorthand notation. 
# DOI
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4375"

# ORCID
curl "https://api.openalex.org/authors/https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6187-6610"

# ROR
curl "https://api.openalex.org/institutions/https://ror.org/02y3ad647"

# ISSN
curl "https://api.openalex.org/sources/issn:0028-0836"

# PMID
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/pmid:29456894"

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Short-form IDs

For convenience, you can use prefix notation instead of full URLs: 
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/doi:10.7717/peerj.4375"
curl "https://api.openalex.org/works/pmid:29456894"

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Canonical external IDs

Each entity type has a primary external identifier:
EntityCanonical ID
WorksDOI
AuthorsORCID
SourcesISSN-L
InstitutionsROR
TopicsWikidata ID
PublishersWikidata ID

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Merged entities

When duplicate entities are merged, requesting the old ID returns a 301 redirect to the new one: 
$ curl -i https://api.openalex.org/authors/A5092938886
HTTP/1.1 301 MOVED PERMANENTLY
Location: https://api.openalex.org/authors/A5006060960
Most HTTP clients follow redirects automatically, so you will receive the merged entity’s data without extra handling.