> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trydatadriver.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Concepts

> Each one is just a name for something simple.

Don't worry if some of these are new. Each one is just a name for
something simple.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API" icon="globe">
    A way for two programs to talk over the internet. You send a
    request, the API sends a response. Like ordering at a drive-thru:
    you say what you want, you get it back.
  </Card>

  <Card title="HTTP" icon="code">
    The language of the web. Every request has a **method** (GET =
    read, POST = send data), a **URL** (where to send it), **headers**
    (extra info), and sometimes a **body** (the data).
  </Card>

  <Card title="JSON" icon="braces">
    A text format for data. Looks like `{"name": "Cody", "age": 35}`.
    The API speaks JSON for both questions and answers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API key (bearer token)" icon="key">
    A secret string that identifies you. You send it in a header on
    every request: `Authorization: Bearer dd_xxxx`. Treat it like a
    password.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Filter" icon="filter">
    A rule that narrows down what you get back. Like searching
    "homeowners in Texas, age 30-50" -- you only get matching rows.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pagination & cursor" icon="list">
    If a query matches 10,000 rows, we don't dump all of them at once.
    We send 100 at a time + a **cursor** (like a bookmark) so you can
    ask for the next 100.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Export" icon="download">
    For really big pulls, paginating is slow. Instead, you ask us to
    generate a CSV file. We build it in the background and give you a
    download link.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate limit" icon="clock">
    The max requests you can send per minute (60 by default). Go over
    and you'll get a 429 error telling you to wait.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Note>
  **The mental model.** You're a *client*. We're a *server*. You make
  HTTP requests with your API key. We send JSON back. That's the
  whole API.
</Note>