# Getting Started

### Follow these steps to get started today :

#### Step 1: 🔑 Create an API key (For further details, [<mark style="color:blue;">Click here</mark>](/how-do-i-get-my-api-key.md))

#### Step 2:  Make Your First Request

#### Performing READ operations

To perform **read** queries, directly target our domain **`https://api.expand.network/`** to hit our API environmen&#x74;**.** Following are the examples to make read queries:

{% hint style="info" %}
📑 Replace **"`YOUR_API_KEY"`** with your **API Key,** which was received by completing Step 1.
{% endhint %}

#### Example 1: via Postman

<figure><img src="/files/Un7UxZIZiyNuOagOx1zw" alt=""><figcaption><p>API KEY - AUTHORIZATION</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/pn5xUoAXEYQ8Mqyi9qb1" alt=""><figcaption><p>Sample request via Postman</p></figcaption></figure>

#### Example 2: via cURL from a command line

```
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" https://api.expand.network/chain/getbalance?address=0xe688b84b23f322a994A53dbF8E15FA82CDB71127
```

#### Performing WRITE operations

To perform a **write** transaction, you would require the followings:-

1. expand.network SDK which can be cloned from [GitHub](https://github.com/expand-network/sdk-nodejs.git).
2. API key&#x20;

* *Example code*: Send one Wei from an address ending in `2c7` to address ending in `86F`. You need to use your private key to sign the transaction. The return value is the transaction hash (`res`).&#x20;

```javascript
const rawTransaction = await signTransaction({
    from: '0x1BdC0A29f667E2cc74e55531431986838023E2c7',
    to: '0x94a5E554DC172A472421291Ae6e6c0e3C150286F',
    value: '1',
    gas: 50000,
},{
    privateKey: YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY',
    xApiKey : 'YOUR_API_KEY'
}).then(rawTransaction => sendTransaction({
    rawTransaction: rawTransaction.rawTransaction,
    xApiKey : 'YOUR_API_KEY'
})).then(res => console.log(res));
```

{% hint style="info" %}
**Good to know:** All transactions are securely signed on your end, so your **private key remains with you**. Expand.network does not hold your crypto or have access to your private key at any point.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.expand.network/getting-started.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.