# Get Started

Go from zero to your first API response in about two minutes. This guide walks you through authentication, the List countries endpoint, and making your first call.

## Get Access

To use the Slingshot APIs, you'll need an **API key**.

[**Get API Key**](https://portal.slingshot.space/developersuite/key-management)

Before continuing, confirm you can access your API key in Key Management — you may need permissions from your organization. You'll need the key for the steps below.

>_ YOUR API KEY

```
sk_live_a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9j0...
```

Your API key authenticates your requests and grants access to Slingshot data. **Keep it private** — treat it like a password.

## Choose an API

We'll use the **List countries** endpoint from the Space Contextual Data API. You'll use the same key for all Slingshot APIs.

GET `/v1/contextual/countries`

### List countries

List countries (paginated, with optional filters per Seradata Schema Details - Countries.csv Filter Field).

#### Parameters

| Location | Name | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `query` | `limit` | integer | No | Maximum number of items to return per page (page size). |
| `query` | `cursor` | string | No | Opaque cursor for pagination; use the value returned in the previous response to request the next page. |
| `query` | `recordLastUpdated` | string (date-time) | No | Filter by record last updated (later than). |

## Make Your First Call

Let's make sure you can actually talk to the API and see data come back. This takes about **two minutes** — no coding required.

### Open a Place to Run Commands

Use Your Terminal  
If you're familiar with the command line, copy this exactly (replace your key):

>_ CURL REQUESTCopy

```
curl -X GET -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" https://api.portal.slingshot.space/v1/contextual/countries
```

You should see JSON data like this (paginated per the API spec):

>_ EXPECTED RESPONSE

```
{
  "data": [
    { "countryId": 233, "name": "United States", "recordLastUpdated": "2024-01-15T12:00:00Z" },
    { "countryId": 392, "name": "Japan", "recordLastUpdated": "2024-01-15T12:00:00Z" }
  ],
  "page": { "limit": 50, "nextCursor": null }
}
```

### You're all set!

If you got a JSON response, your key and connection are working. You're ready to explore the full API.