Get hands-on experience by building a fully functional search experience using Algolia.

Become an API Integrator

In this module, you will learn how the Algolia API works by understanding its main components. The end goal is for you to be able to integrate Algolia into your application to deliver tailored, fast search experiences.

In the first half, you will learn how to build a full search experience using Algolia's search API and by utilizing Algolia's InstantSearch library. In the second half, you will learn how to extend Algolia's widgets by building a custom search experience.

Getting Started with Algolia API


In order to get the search component working, we will need to set up an [Algolia](https://www.algolia.com/users/sign_up) account.

Once the account is created, we need to do the following:


## Step 1: Creating an index
### Using the dashboard
In the first step, we will create a new _index_ that will contain our _records_. These records will be searchable in Algolia by the user from the application front end.


The index can be named anything (for example, **dev_SHOP**). Also, we can have as many indices as we want, such as one for development and one for the production environment. 

### Using API
Another way we can create an index is from code by using the search client `initIndex` method, which takes the index name as a parameter before pushing the data to the Algolia dashboard.

If the index does not exist in the dashboard, then it will be created. Otherwise, it will just get updated.

The index will be created/updated when you run `saveObjects` or `setSettings` operations, which we will explore in later lessons.
```
//search only version of the api client, optimised for size and search:
const algoliasearch = require("algoliasearch/lite");  
require("dotenv").config();

//Initialise algolia client with app id and api key which you can find as you can see below
const client = algoliasearch( 
  process.env.REACT_APP_ALOGLIA_APP_ID,
  process.env.REACT_APP_ALGOLIA_API_KEY
);

const index = client.initIndex(process.env.REACT_APP_ALGOLIA_INDEX); // dev_SHOP
```

## Step 2: Getting the API key
In the second step, we will get the API key and the app ID. These will be used to create the search client, which can be found in the Algolia dashboard as follows:


In order to get the search component working, we will need to set up an [Algolia](https://www.algolia.com/users/sign_up) account.

Once the account is created, we need to do the following:


# Step 1: Creating an index
## Using the dashboard
In the first step, we will create a new _index_ that will contain our _records_. These records will be searchable in Algolia by the user from the application front end.


The index can be named anything (for example, **dev_SHOP**). Also, we can have as many indices as we want, such as one for development and one for the production environment. 

## Using API
Another way we can create an index is from code by using the search client `initIndex` method, which takes the index name as a parameter before pushing the data to the Algolia dashboard.

If the index does not exist in the dashboard, then it will be created. Otherwise, it will just get updated.

The index will be created/updated when you run `saveObjects` or `setSettings` operations, which we will explore in later lessons.
```
//search only version of the api client, optimised for size and search:
const algoliasearch = require("algoliasearch/lite");  
require("dotenv").config();

//Initialise algolia client with app id and api key which you can find as you can see below
const client = algoliasearch( 
  process.env.REACT_APP_ALOGLIA_APP_ID,
  process.env.REACT_APP_ALGOLIA_API_KEY
);

const index = client.initIndex(process.env.REACT_APP_ALGOLIA_INDEX); // dev_SHOP
```

# Step 2: Getting the API key
In the second step, we will get the API key and the app ID. These will be used to create the search client, which can be found in the Algolia dashboard as follows:

Learn how to create an Algolia index, get Algolia API keys, and create new ones.

Before We Begin

Introduction to Algolia

Sending and Managing Data in Algolia

Step by Step Implementation

Extending Algolia for Custom Search

Conclusion

Algolia Setup

Step 1: Creating an index

Using the dashboard