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

# Quickstart

> Create an API key and make your first FocusAlpha Data API request in under five minutes.

This guide takes you from zero to your first successful API call. You'll create a key, look up a company, and check your credit usage.

## Prerequisites

* A FocusAlpha account — sign in at [app.focusalpha.ai](https://app.focusalpha.ai)
* A terminal with `curl`, or any HTTP client

Every new account starts on the **Free plan with 100 credits** — enough to explore the entire Free-tier surface. Credits don't expire.

## Get started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create an API key">
    In the [dashboard](https://app.focusalpha.ai), open **Settings → API keys** and create a key. Give it a name that identifies where it will be used.

    The full key — `fa_live_` followed by 40 hex characters — is **shown exactly once** at creation. Store it somewhere safe; only a hash is kept on our side, so it can never be displayed again. You can hold up to 5 active keys and revoke any of them at any time.

    ```bash theme={null}
    export FOCUSALPHA_API_KEY="fa_live_..."
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Look up a company">
    Search the company registry by ticker:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "https://api.focusalpha.ai/v1/companies?ticker=NVDA" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOCUSALPHA_API_KEY"
    ```

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "data": [
        {
          "company_id": "cmp_...",
          "company_name": "NVIDIA Corporation",
          "country": "US",
          "cik": "0001045810",
          "primary_ticker": "NVDA",
          "primary_exchange": "NASDAQ",
          "sector": "Technology",
          "...": "..."
        }
      ],
      "next_cursor": null,
      "coverage": {
        "update_frequency": "weekly",
        "history_status": "current_snapshot"
      }
    }
    ```

    The `company_id` is the canonical identifier — but on company-scoped routes you can keep using the ticker, CIK, or ISIN directly. See [Company identifiers](/concepts/company-identifiers).

    This call cost **1 credit**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check your usage">
    The usage endpoint is free to call and defaults to the current month:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl "https://api.focusalpha.ai/v1/usage" \
      -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOCUSALPHA_API_KEY"
    ```

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "period": { "from": "2026-08-01T00:00:00.000Z", "to": "2026-08-27T14:30:00.000Z" },
      "totals": { "requests": 1, "chunksReturned": 0 },
      "byKey": [{ "prefix": "fa_live_7Fb3", "requests": 1 }]
    }
    ```

    Your remaining credit balance is always visible in the [dashboard](https://app.focusalpha.ai).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Browse the API reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference">
    Filings, financials, ownership, events, news, and international datasets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Understand plans & credits" icon="coins" href="/concepts/plans-credits">
    What's metered, what's free, and what each plan unlocks.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect via MCP" icon="plug" href="/mcp-setup">
    Use FocusAlpha from Claude or Cursor with the same key.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Errors" icon="triangle-exclamation" href="/concepts/errors">
    Status codes, error envelopes, and request IDs.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tip>
  Stuck? Email [support@focusalpha.ai](mailto:support@focusalpha.ai) and include the `requestId` from the error response — it lets us trace your exact request.
</Tip>