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

# Quickstart

<img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/linqalpha/bCHFXn54l9PHetBW/images/main-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=bCHFXn54l9PHetBW&q=85&s=7f133135eaed6115d2c3f1ceb72b3d5c" alt="Linq API - Light Theme" width="2048" height="1200" data-path="images/main-image.png" />

<img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/linqalpha/bCHFXn54l9PHetBW/images/main-image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=bCHFXn54l9PHetBW&q=85&s=7f133135eaed6115d2c3f1ceb72b3d5c" alt="Linq API - Dark Theme" width="2048" height="1200" data-path="images/main-image.png" />

## Getting Started

Kickstart your integration with the Linq Alpha API by setting up your development environment. Follow our guides to authenticate, send requests, and handle streaming responses (including Server-Sent Events).

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Configure Your Environment" icon="cogs" href="/docs/setup/environment">
    Set up your API keys, configure endpoints, and prepare your local environment.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Try the API Playground" icon="code" href="/docs/api/playground">
    Experiment with endpoints, test your requests, and view live responses.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Authentication

Linq API uses API key authentication. You must include your API key in the header of every request. For example:

```http theme={null}
X-API-KEY: YOUR_API_KEY
```