# Quick start

The datool.ru API returns the MAX data you see on the site: the channel catalog, cards, daily statistics and posts.

## Get a key

1. Sign in at [hi.datool.ru](https://hi.datool.ru) and open “API keys”.
2. Click “Create key” and copy it — the full key is shown only once.

## Make your first request

```bash
# who am I: organization, API plan and remaining requests (free)
curl https://api.datool.ru/v1/me/ \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer dtk_your_key"
```

The same in Python:

```python
# HTTP library: pip install requests
import requests

# API key from your account — replace with yours
HEADERS = {"Authorization": "Bearer dtk_your_key"}

# who am I: organization, API plan and remaining requests (free)
me = requests.get("https://api.datool.ru/v1/me/", headers=HEADERS, timeout=30).json()
print(me["api_tariff"], me["remaining_period"])
```

The response shows your organization, API plan and how many requests are left. This request is free.

## Find a channel

```bash
# find a channel by a max.ru/… link — the response has the card and the datool.ru number (id)
curl "https://api.datool.ru/v1/max/channels/resolve/?q=https://max.ru/citynews" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer dtk_your_key"
```

The response contains the channel card and its datool.ru ID (`id`). Use the ID to request statistics and posts.

## Get statistics

```python
import requests

HEADERS = {"Authorization": "Bearer dtk_your_key"}
API = "https://api.datool.ru/v1"

# 1. the channel number by link
channel = requests.get(
    f"{API}/max/channels/resolve/",
    params={"q": "https://max.ru/citynews"},
    headers=HEADERS,
    timeout=30,
).json()

# 2. daily statistics — the last 30 days by default
stats = requests.get(
    f"{API}/max/stats/daily/",
    params={"channels": channel["id"]},
    headers=HEADERS,
    timeout=30,
).json()

for row in stats["results"]:
    # day, subscribers at the end of the day, views of that day's posts
    print(row["day"], row["subscribers"], row["views"])
```

## What next

- [Keys and authorization](/en/api/keys/), [Limits and usage](/en/api/limits/), [Pagination](/en/api/pagination/), [Filtering and sorting](/en/api/filters/), [Data formats](/en/api/formats/), [Errors](/en/api/errors/).
- [Method reference](/en/api/methods/) — every method with parameters, response fields, examples and errors.

!!! note
    The free “API.Max Test” plan gives 1,000 requests per 30 days: channel cards and statistics for the last 30 days. Posts and the full history start with “API.Max Start”.