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Indexing API Quickstart

Create a datasource and index one document. This is the shortest end-to-end path to making custom content available to Glean; use the Indexing API overview to explore other content types and workflows.

Before you begin​

1

Find your API URL

If automatic discovery is unavailable, ask a Glean admin for the complete Server instance (QE) value. Glean admins can copy it from the About Glean page.

2

Create an API token

Create an Indexing API token by following the Indexing API authentication guide.

3

Plan your datasource

Choose a stable datasource name and a URL pattern that matches the documents you plan to index.

1. Create a datasource​

Replace the token, any placeholder API URL, and the example datasource values, then run the request:

curl -X POST https://customer-be.glean.com/api/index/v1/adddatasource \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <your_indexing_token>' \
  -d '{
    "name": "internal-docs",
    "displayName": "Internal Documentation",
    "datasourceCategory": "PUBLISHED_CONTENT",
    "urlRegex": "^https://internal.company.com/docs.*",
    "isUserReferencedByEmail": true
  }'

For field selection, admin-console setup, and an API-client example, see Set Up a Datasource.

2. Index a document​

Use the same datasource name in your first document request:

curl -X POST https://customer-be.glean.com/api/index/v1/indexdocument \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <your_indexing_token>' \
  -d '{
    "document": {
      "datasource": "internal-docs",
      "objectType": "Document",
      "id": "getting-started-guide",
      "title": "Getting Started Guide",
      "body": {
        "mimeType": "text/plain",
        "textContent": "This guide helps new employees get up to speed quickly..."
      },
      "permissions": {
        "allowAnonymousAccess": false,
        "allowedUsers": [{ "email": "employee@company.com" }]
      },
      "viewURL": "https://internal.company.com/docs/getting-started"
    }
  }'

For document fields, permissions, bulk indexing, and API-client examples, see Index Documents.

3. Enable and verify the datasource​

In the Glean Admin Console, open the custom datasource and enable its content for a test group or all teammates. Indexing is asynchronous, so the document can take a few minutes to appear in search. Verify it as a user allowed by the document permissions.

Next steps​

Authentication

Review Indexing API token permissions and datasource access.

Troubleshooting

Diagnose datasource configuration and document visibility.

API Reference

Browse Indexing API endpoints by capability.