> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://developers.deepgram.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://developers.deepgram.com/_mcp/server.

# Make Your First API Request

> **Info**
>
> Before you can use Deepgram, you'll need to [create a Deepgram account](https://console.deepgram.com/signup?jump=keys). Signup is free and includes **\$200** in free credit and access to all of Deepgram's features!

## Create a Deepgram API Key

To access Deepgram's API, you'll need to [create a Deepgram API Key](https://console.deepgram.com/signup?jump=keys). Make note of your API Key; you will need it later.

## Make a Request to the API

Here are several options for trying out the Deepgram API. These examples are meant to help you make a first request to Deepgram; we encourage you to try out one of our Getting Started guides to learn more.

### Deepgram Playground

Make a request without writing any code! Head to the [Deepgram Playground](https://playground.deepgram.com/?smart_format=true\&language=en\&model=nova-3) to try out the API. No sign-up required!

### CURL

Run the following cURL command in your shell. Be sure to replace the `DEEPGRAM_API_KEY` with your own key.

**`cURL`**

```bash cURL
curl \
  --request POST \
  --header 'Authorization: Token YOUR_DEEPGRAM_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{"url":"https://static.deepgram.com/examples/interview_speech-analytics.wav"}' \
  --url 'https://api.deepgram.com/v1/listen?model=nova-3&smart_format=true'
```

For more examples using CURL, check out the [Transcribing Pre-Recorded Audio](/docs/pre-recorded-audio) guide.

### Deepgram SDKs

This section will help you get set up to use Deepgram's SDKs. Then you can continue on to one of the Getting Started guides, which demonstrate how to make common API requests with Deepgram's officially supported SDKs.

#### Configure Environment

We provide sample scripts throughout our documentation in the languages of our SDKs and assume you have already configured your development environment. System requirements will vary depending on the programming language you use:

* **Node.js**: node >= 14.14.37
* **Python**: python >= 3.10
* **.NET**: dotnet >= 6.0
* **GO**: Go >= 1.18
* **Java**: Java >= 11, Maven or Gradle

> **Info**
>
> If you get stuck at any point, help is just a click away! [Contact Support](/support/).

#### Install the SDK

If you intend to use one of Deepgram's SDKs to make your request, you must install it.

Open your terminal, navigate to the location on your drive where you want to create your project, and install the Deepgram SDK.

**`Python`**

```shell Python
# Install the Deepgram Python SDK
# https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-python-sdk
pip install deepgram-sdk
```

**`JavaScript`**

```shell JavaScript
# Install the Deepgram JavaScript SDK
# https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-js-sdk
npm install @deepgram/sdk
```

**`.NET`**

```shell .NET
# Install the Deepgram .NET SDK
# https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-dotnet-sdk
dotnet add package Deepgram
```

**`Go`**

```shell Go
# Install the Deepgram Go SDK
# https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-go-sdk
go get github.com/deepgram/deepgram-go-sdk
```

**`Java (Maven)`**

```xml Java (Maven)
<!-- Add the Deepgram Java SDK to your pom.xml -->
<!-- https://github.com/deepgram/deepgram-java-sdk -->
<dependency>
  <groupId>com.deepgram</groupId>
  <artifactId>deepgram-java-sdk</artifactId>
  <version>0.2.1</version>
</dependency>
```

#### Make a Request with the SDKs

Continue on to one of our **Getting Started Guides** where you will find language-specific code samples that show you how to make requests to Deepgram with the SDK of your choice.

* [Pre-Recorded Speech to Text](/docs/pre-recorded-audio)
* [Streaming Speech to Text](/docs/live-streaming-audio)
* [Text to Speech](/docs/text-to-speech)
* [Audio Intelligence](/docs/audio-intelligence)
* [Text Intelligence](/docs/text-intelligence)

---

What's Next

* [Deepgram API Overview](/reference/deepgram-api-overview)