> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cala.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Start using Cala in 30 seconds.

<Tip>
  **Using an AI assistant?** Install the Cala skill and your agent will know how to use Cala out of the box — no extra prompting needed.

  ```bash theme={null}
  npx skills add cala-ai/cala-skill
  ```

  [Learn more](/integrations/agent-skill)
</Tip>

## Create your API key

Get an API key to authenticate your requests. Go to our [Console](https://console.cala.ai/api-keys) and create a new API key.

<Card title="Get Cala's API key" icon="key" horizontal href="https://console.cala.ai/api-keys">
  Create a free Cala account and get your API key.
</Card>

## Make your first request

Both endpoints accept the same input — the difference is how they respond. Send a Cala QL expression (or a natural-language question) and choose the output shape you need.

<CodeGroup>
  ```python Structured Answer (knowledge_query) icon=python theme={null}
  import requests

  url = "https://api.cala.ai/v1/knowledge/query"

  query = "startups.location=Spain.funding>10M.funding<50M"
  payload = { "input": query }
  headers = {
      "X-API-KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  }

  response = requests.post(url, json=payload, headers=headers)

  print(response.json())
  ```

  ```javascript Natural Language Answer (knowledge_search) icon=square-js theme={null}
  const options = {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {'X-API-KEY': 'YOUR_API_KEY', 'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
    body: JSON.stringify({input: 'startups.location=Spain.funding>10M.funding<50M'})
  };

  fetch('https://api.cala.ai/v1/knowledge/search', options)
    .then(res => res.json())
    .then(res => console.log(res))
    .catch(err => console.error(err));
  ```
</CodeGroup>

Same input, two output shapes.

## Get a Structured Answer

`POST /v1/knowledge/query` returns JSON rows — ready for programmatic use.

```json theme={null}
[
  { "name": "Luzia", "funding": "13M", "location": "Spain" },
  { "name": "Nomad Solar", "funding": "15M", "location": "Spain" },
  { "name": "Embat", "funding": "21.5M", "location": "Spain" },
  { "name": "Matteco", "funding": "16M+", "location": "Spain" },
  { "name": "Exoticca", "funding": "25.2M", "location": "Spain" },
  { "name": "Multiverse Computing", "funding": "12.5M", "location": "Spain" }
]
```

## Get a Natural-Language Answer

`POST /v1/knowledge/search` returns a succinct, sourced answer in markdown.

```markdown theme={null}
## Spanish Startups (€10M–€50M funding)

**Luzia** — AI assistant, €13M raised.
**Nomad Solar** — Solar energy, €15M raised.
**Embat** — Treasury management, €21.5M raised.
**Matteco** — Green hydrogen materials, €16M+ raised.
**Exoticca** — Travel tech, €25.2M raised.
**Multiverse Computing** — Quantum computing, €12.5M raised.
```

No parsing. No deduplication. No hallucinated data. Verified, sourced, deterministic.

## Next steps

That's it! You can now start using Cala to build your own applications. Deep dive into the available endpoints, params and responses in our [API Reference](/api-reference/query) section.