> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dev.docs.1to1ai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Quickstart

> Authenticate your first request and send a WhatsApp message in minutes.

This guide takes you from zero to your first WhatsApp message sent through the API.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Get your API key">
    The API key is issued from the dashboard, under **Settings → API**. It has
    the `sk_1to1_` prefix.

    <Warning>
      The API key grants full access to your business's conversations. Treat it
      as a secret — never put it in client-side code or commit it to a
      repository.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Identify your business">
    Every endpoint hangs off a base URL that includes your business's `{slug}`:

    ```
    https://app.1to1.ai/api/v1/public/{slug}
    ```

    The `{slug}` is also in the API settings. The key and the `slug` must
    belong to the **same business**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get your channel key">
    Every request carries the **channel key** (`channel`), required on each send.
    You copy it from the dashboard under **Settings → Channels**: open your
    WhatsApp channel and copy the **Channel key** field (it has the `ch_`
    prefix). You can also list them with `GET /channels`, which returns each
    channel with its `key`.

    <Note>
      The key appears when you **edit** an already-connected channel. If you just
      created one, save it and reopen it to see the key.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your first message">
    A `POST` to `/conversation/actions` with a `send_message` action, and the
    conversation identified by phone and channel:

    <CodeGroup>
      ```bash cURL theme={null}
      curl -X POST "https://app.1to1.ai/api/v1/public/{slug}/conversation/actions" \
        -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_1to1_your_api_key" \
        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
        -d '{
          "conversation": {
            "phone": "+5215512345678",
            "channel": "ch_7A9K2M4Q"
          },
          "actions": [
            {
              "type": "send_message",
              "body": "Hi 👋, how can I help you?"
            }
          ]
        }'
      ```

      ```js JavaScript theme={null}
      const res = await fetch(
        "https://app.1to1.ai/api/v1/public/{slug}/conversation/actions",
        {
          method: "POST",
          headers: {
            Authorization: "Bearer sk_1to1_your_api_key",
            "Content-Type": "application/json",
          },
          body: JSON.stringify({
            conversation: { phone: "+5215512345678", channel: "ch_7A9K2M4Q" },
            actions: [
              { type: "send_message", body: "Hi 👋, how can I help you?" },
            ],
          }),
        },
      );
      ```

      ```python Python theme={null}
      import requests

      requests.post(
          "https://app.1to1.ai/api/v1/public/{slug}/conversation/actions",
          headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk_1to1_your_api_key"},
          json={
              "conversation": {"phone": "+5215512345678", "channel": "ch_7A9K2M4Q"},
              "actions": [
                  {"type": "send_message", "body": "Hi 👋, how can I help you?"}
              ],
          },
      )
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Handle the response">
    A `202` response confirms the group was **accepted**; the actions run in the
    background:

    ```json theme={null}
    { "status": "processing", "actions_accepted": 1 }
    ```

    The `202` does not guarantee each action succeeded — the per-action result
    does not travel in the response. Check it in the conversation status or the
    business's activity log.

    If validation fails, the API returns a synchronous `4xx` and **no** action
    runs. Errors return `{ code, message }`; both fields are guaranteed. Switch
    on `code` (stable), never on `message` (human text, may be refined between
    API versions):

    ```json theme={null}
    { "code": "CONVERSATION_NOT_FOUND", "message": "..." }
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  **Rate limit:** 60 requests/min per API key. When exceeded you get a `429` with
  the `Retry-After` header. See [Rate limits](/en/rate-limits).
</Note>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Conversations" icon="comments" href="/en/conversations">
    How to identify a conversation and the 24h window.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Messages" icon="paper-plane" href="/en/messages">
    The four ways to send a message.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>