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

# Quickstart

> Get an API key and make your first Nowadays REST API request.

This guide gets you from zero to your first response.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get an API key">
    API keys are issued by the Nowadays team.
    [Contact us](mailto:support@nowadays.ai) to request one.

    A key is issued to a person within one organization, and is shown **only
    once** at creation — store it somewhere safe. It can be revoked and
    reissued. See [Authentication](/api/authentication) for how keys are scoped
    and sent.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Make your first request">
    List your organization's events. Send your key in the `x-api-key` header:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "https://api.nowadays.ai/v1/events?page=1&limit=20" \
      -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the response">
    You'll get back your events, newest first:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "data": [
        {
          "id": "3f1a2b4c-5d6e-7f80-9a1b-2c3d4e5f6071",
          "name": "Annual Conference 2026",
          "dates": [{ "startDate": "2026-03-15", "endDate": "2026-03-17" }],
          "locations": ["Monterey, CA, USA"],
          "numPeople": 120,
          "status": "wait_for_proposals",
          "createdAt": "2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z"
        }
      ],
      "page": 1,
      "limit": 20,
      "total": 1
    }
    ```

    Results are scoped to the organization that owns your key. Use `page` and
    `limit` (max `100`) to paginate.

    <Check>
      A `200` with your events means your key works. A `401` means the key is
      missing or invalid — double-check the `x-api-key` header.
    </Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/api/authentication">
    How API keys are scoped and kept safe.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Writing events" icon="pen-to-square" href="/api/writing-events">
    The rules the write path enforces.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Errors" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/api/errors">
    Status codes and the error response shape.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate limits" icon="gauge-high" href="/api/rate-limits">
    Per-key limits and how to handle `429`.
  </Card>
</Columns>