> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://unstructured-53-kapa-ai.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Sending POST requests to Unstructured API

> This page provides some examples of accessing Unstructured API via direct calls.

## Basics

Whether you're using the free Unstructured API, the SaaS Unstructured API, Unstructured API on Azure/AWS or your local
deployment of Unstructured API, you can work with the API by sending POST requests to it.

Let's start with a simple example in which you send an email file (`*.eml`) to partition via Unstructured API:

```bash
 curl -X 'POST' \
  'https://api.unstructured.io/general/v0/general' \
  -H 'accept: application/json' \
  -H 'Content-Type: multipart/form-data' \
  -H 'unstructured-api-key: <YOUR_API_KEY>' \
  -F 'files=@sample-docs/family-day.eml'
```

In the example above we're sending the request to the free Unstructured API, in which case the API URL is the same for all
users: `https://api.unstructured.io/general/v0/general`. Note, however, that you still need to authenticate yourself with
your individual API Key. Learn how to obtain an API key in the Getting Started section of the documentation:
[Free Unstructured API guide](/api-reference/api-services/free-api) and [SaaS Unstructured API guide](/api-reference/api-services/saas-api-development-guide).

If you are using the SaaS Unstructured API, you need to replace the URL in this example with the unique API URL that you have
received in the same email as your API key. For Unstructured API on Azure/AWS, use the API URL that you
configured through those services.

## Parameters & examples

The API parameters are the same across all methods of accessing the Unstructured API.

* Refer to the [API parameters](/api-reference/api-services/api-parameters) page for the full list of available parameters.
* Refer to the [Examples](/api-reference/api-services/examples) page for some inspiration on using the parameters.

[//]: # "TODO: when we have the concepts page shared across products, link it from here for the users to learn about partition strategies, chunking strategies and other important shared concepts"