How to Use Exa

Getting started with Exa

After reading this guide, you'll be able to sign up for Exa, perform your first search using the API, and optimise your results to find content based on meaning rather than keywords.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to exa.ai.
2. Click on the "Get Started" button in the top right corner.
3. Fill in your details to create a free account. You’ll receive an email to verify your account.
4. Once verified, log in to your Exa dashboard.
5. Navigate to the "API Keys" section in the menu on the left and generate your API key. This key will be used for authentication in your searches.

Step 2: Your first search

1. Open your preferred code editor or API testing tool (like Postman).
2. Set up a new HTTP POST request to https://api.exa.ai/search.
3. In the headers, add:

- Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY (replace YOUR_API_KEY with the key you generated). - Content-Type: application/json.

1. In the body, enter a JSON object with your search query. For example:

{
     "query": "climate change impact"
   }

1. Send the request. You should receive a JSON response containing relevant content based on meaning.

Step 3: Get better results

• Use specific phrases or context in your queries to refine results. Instead of just "climate change", try "effects of climate change on agriculture".
• Experiment with the "filters" parameter in your search body to narrow down results by categories or types.
• Check the API documentation for advanced options like sorting and pagination to enhance your search capabilities.

Pro tip

Use the "test" feature in the Exa dashboard to quickly experiment with different queries and see how changes affect your results without needing to set up a new request each time.

Common mistake to avoid

A common mistake is not including the correct headers in your API request. Ensure that you include the Authorization header with your valid API key, or your requests will fail.