> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/xsiam-api/make-your-first-api-call.md).

# Make your first API call

The following examples vary depending on the type of key you select.

You can test authentication with Advanced API keys using the provided Python 3 example. With Standard API keys, use either the cURL example or the Python 3 example. Don't forget to replace the example variables with your unique API key, API key ID, and FQDN tenant. After you verify authentication, you can begin making API calls.

```curl
curl -X POST https://api-{fqdn}/public_api/v1/{name of api}/{name of call}/ 
-H "x-xdr-auth-id:{key_id}" 
-H "Authorization:{key}" 
-H "Content-Type:application/json" 
-d '{}' 
```

```python
import requests
    def test_standard_authentication(api_key_id, api_key):
    headers = {
        "x-xdr-auth-id": str(api_key_id),
        "Authorization": api_key
    }
    parameters = {}
    res = requests.post(url="https://api-{fqdn}/public_api/v1/{name of api}/{name of call}",
						headers=headers,
						json=parameters)
    return res
```

```python
import requests

from datetime import datetime, timezone
import secrets
import string
import hashlib
import requests

def test_advanced_authentication(api_key_id, api_key):
   # Generate a 64 bytes random string
    nonce = "".join([secrets.choice(string.ascii_letters + string.digits) for _ in range(64)])
    # Get the current timestamp as milliseconds.
    timestamp = int(datetime.now(timezone.utc).timestamp()) * 1000
    # Generate the auth key:
    auth_key = "%s%s%s" % (api_key, nonce, timestamp)
    # Convert to bytes object
    auth_key = auth_key.encode("utf-8")
    # Calculate sha256:
    api_key_hash = hashlib.sha256(auth_key).hexdigest()
    # Generate HTTP call headers
    headers = {
        "x-xdr-timestamp": str(timestamp),
        "x-xdr-nonce": nonce,
        "x-xdr-auth-id": str(api_key_id),
        "Authorization": api_key_hash
    }
    parameters = {}
    res = requests.post(url="https://api-{fqdn}/public_api/v1/{name of api}/{name of call}",
						headers=headers,
						json=parameters)
    return res
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/xsiam-api/make-your-first-api-call.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.