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

# Quickstart

> Create an API key and make your first search request.

## Create an API key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create your key">
    Sign in to the [Ateve Dashboard](https://ateve.ai/keys), open **API keys**, and create a key.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the environment variable">
    In your terminal, replace `YOUR_ATEVE_API_KEY` with your key and run:

    ```bash theme={null}
    export ATEVE_API_KEY="YOUR_ATEVE_API_KEY"
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Send a request

Choose cURL, Python, or JavaScript (Node.js). Each example reads your API key from the `ATEVE_API_KEY` environment variable.

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl -X POST https://api.ateve.ai/v1/search \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $ATEVE_API_KEY" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{"query":"AI news"}'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import json
  import os
  from urllib.request import Request, urlopen

  request = Request(
      "https://api.ateve.ai/v1/search",
      data=json.dumps({"query": "AI news"}).encode(),
      headers={
          "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['ATEVE_API_KEY']}",
          "Content-Type": "application/json",
      },
      method="POST",
  )

  with urlopen(request) as response:
      print(json.load(response))
  ```

  ```javascript JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch("https://api.ateve.ai/v1/search", {
    method: "POST",
    headers: {
      Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.ATEVE_API_KEY}`,
      "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({ query: "AI news" }),
  });

  console.log(await response.json());
  ```
</CodeGroup>

The API returns ranked search results, including source URLs and relevant snippets.

## Next Steps

<div className="ateve-next-steps ateve-resource-cards">
  <Columns cols={2}>
    <Card title="Search API" icon="magnifying-glass" href="/search/search-api-guide" arrow={false}>
      Explore search parameters, content options, and filters.
    </Card>

    <Card title="SDKs" icon="code" href="/get-started/sdks" arrow={false}>
      Use Ateve in your Python or JavaScript application.
    </Card>

    <Card title="MCP" icon="plug" href="/get-started/mcp" arrow={false}>
      Connect your AI client to Ateve with MCP.
    </Card>

    <Card title="Agent Skills" icon="terminal" href="/get-started/agent-skills" arrow={false}>
      Give your coding agent the skills to search with Ateve.
    </Card>
  </Columns>
</div>