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

# Quick Start

> Make your first call to DataLink APIs in under 5 minutes.

## Step 1 — Get your API key

[Sign up for a free account](https://datalinkapis.com/login) — no credit card required. Your API key is available immediately in the dashboard under **API Keys**.

Your key looks like this:

```
dl_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
```

<Warning>
  Keep your API key secret. Never expose it in client-side code or commit it to a public repository.
</Warning>

## Step 2 — Make your first request

Send a `POST` request to any endpoint with your key in the `Authorization` header and a JSON body.

Here's a live email validation call using cURL:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST https://api.datalinkapis.com/v1/email \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer dl_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{ "email": "hello@datalinkapis.com" }'
```

## Step 3 — Read the response

A successful response looks like this:

```json theme={null}
{
  "email": "hello@datalinkapis.com",
  "valid": true,
  "deliverable": true,
  "syntax_valid": true,
  "mx_found": true,
  "disposable": false,
  "role_account": false,
  "domain": "datalinkapis.com",
  "credits_used": 1
}
```

Every response includes a `credits_used` field showing how many credits were deducted for the call.

## Try it interactively

You can test any endpoint live — without writing code — in the [API Playground](https://datalinkapis.com/playground). Enter your API key, pick an endpoint, and fire.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Authentication" icon="key" href="/authentication">
    Full auth reference and key management.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Credits" icon="coins" href="/credits">
    How credits are calculated and managed.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/overview">
    Every endpoint, parameter, and response field.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>