> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/workflows/guides-and-recipes/recipes/call-an-api/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.meetgail.com/_mcp/server.

# Call an API

> Send an HTTP request to another service, authenticate with a secret, and use the response.

When you need to talk to a service that a workflow does not have a built-in step
for, you send it an HTTP request directly. You set the method and URL, add any
headers the service needs, and then read the response in later steps.

## Nodes involved

* [HTTP Request](/platform/workflows/node-reference/web-and-http/http-request) sends the
  request and returns the response.

## How to build it

### Set the method and URL

Add an HTTP Request step. Choose the method (such as `GET` or `POST`) and enter
the URL of the service you are calling.

### Authenticate with a secret

Most services need a credential. Store it as a
[secret](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/secrets) and build the Authorization header
from it rather than typing the key in:

```
"Bearer " + secret.api_key
```

The real key never appears in the workflow.

### Use the response

Later steps can read the response by referencing the step, for example:

```
http-request.data.body
```

Point a downstream field at the part of the response you need.

> **Note**
>
> If the service can be slow or flaky, review the step's time limit and retry
> behavior. See
> [Timeouts & Retries](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/timeouts-retries).

## Related

#### [HTTP Request](/platform/workflows/node-reference/web-and-http/http-request)

Every option for sending a request.

#### [Secrets](/platform/workflows/core-concepts/secrets)

Store the credential the request needs.

> Documentation for Gail, the AI platform for financial services. Learn how to set up GailGPT and Gail Agent to automate customer communications for insurance, banking, and finance.