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

# Chat with Chatbot

In this section, we will guide you on how to start chatting with your chatbot using the Chatsistant API.
Before you begin, please ensure you meet the following prerequisites:

## Prerequisites

* An API key for accessing the Chatsistant API.
* A development environment or tool for making HTTP requests, such as Curl or a programming language like Python.

<Note>
  Please note that to chat on specific topics, your chatbot needs to have
  relevant data sources uploaded.
</Note>

## Start with creating a chat session

### Why Create a Chat Session?

Before sending messages to the chatbot, it's essential to create a chat session. A chat session acts as a container that holds all the messages exchanged between you and the chatbot. Here's why creating a chat session is necessary:

1. **Message Context:** A chat session allows you to maintain context throughout a conversation. It ensures that the chatbot understands the context of your questions or statements.

2. **Order of Messages:** The chat session helps in maintaining the order of messages. This is crucial for having meaningful and coherent conversations with the chatbot.

3. **State Management:** The chat session allows you to manage the state of the conversation. You can continue a conversation seamlessly by referencing the same session UUID.

### Create a chat session

To create a chat session, you need to use a POST request to the API endpoint: `https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/chatbot/{chatbot_uuid}/session/create`.

<Warning>
  Make sure to replace `{chatbot_uuid}` with the UUID of your chatbot.
</Warning>

### Example Request

Here're example command to create a chatbot using the Chatsistant API:

<Warning>Replace **token** with your actual API key.</Warning>

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Curl theme={null}
  curl --location --request POST 'https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/chatbot/{chatbot_uuid}/session/create' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  ```

  ```py Python theme={null}
  import requests

  url = 'https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/chatbot/{chatbot_uuid}/session/create'
  headers = {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      'Authorization': 'Bearer <token>'
  }


  response = requests.post(url,  headers=headers, params=params)

  if response.status_code == 200:
      print("Request successful!")
      print(response.json())
  else:
      print("Request failed with status code:", response.status_code)
      print(response.text)
  ```

  ```ts JavaScript theme={null}
  const axios = require("axios");

  const url =
    "https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/chatbot/{chatbot_uuid}/session/create";
  const headers = {
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
    Authorization: "Bearer <token>",
  };

  axios
    .post(url, { headers, params })
    .then((response) => {
      console.log("Request successful!");
      console.log(response.data);
    })
    .catch((error) => {
      console.error("Request failed:", error);
    });
  ```
</CodeGroup>

This API request returns JSON data that you can reuse to send messages:

```json theme={null}
{
  "created_at": "string",
  "modified_at": "string",
  "uuid": "string"
}
```

<Note>
  The uuid from this response is essential for sending messages within the
  established chat session. It will be used in the following steps.
</Note>

## Chat Within a Session

### Send Messages

With a chat session created, you can now send messages to your chatbot.
Use the following API endpoint to send messages and get a streamed AI response:\
`https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/session/{session_uuid}/message/stream`

<Warning>
  Make sure to replace `{session_uuid}` with the `uuid` obtained from the chat
  session creation response
</Warning>

### Example Request

Here're example command to create a message using the Chatsistant API:

<Warning>Replace **token** with your actual API key.</Warning>

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash Curl theme={null}
  curl --location --request POST 'https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/session/{session_uuid}/message/stream' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN' \
  --data-raw '{"query": "Your query goes here"}'
  ```

  ```py Python theme={null}
  import requests

  url = f"https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/session/{session_uuid}/message/stream"
  headers = {
      "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN",
      "Content-Type": "application/json"
  }

  data = {
      "query": "Your query goes here"
  }

  response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data, stream=True)

  if response.status_code == 200:
      for line in response.iter_lines(decode_unicode=True):
          # Process streaming response here
          print(line + '\n')
  else:
      print("Error:", response.status_code)
  ```

  ```ts JavaScript theme={null}
  const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
  xhr.open(
    "POST",
    `https://app.chatsistant.com/api/v1/session/{session_uuid}/message/stream`,
    true
  );

  xhr.setRequestHeader("Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN");
  xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/json;charset=UTF-8");

  const data = JSON.stringify({ query: "Your query goes here" });

  xhr.send(data);

  xhr.onprogress = () => {
    const streamingResponse = xhr.responseText;
    console.log(streamingResponse);
  };

  xhr.onreadystatechange = () => {
    if (xhr.readyState === 4) {
      if (xhr.status === 200) {
        console.log("Streaming completed successfully");
      } else {
        console.error("Error:", xhr.status);
      }
    }
  };
  ```
</CodeGroup>

That's it! You've now learned how to chat with your own chatbot using the Chatsistant API.