Skip to main content

Common Mistakes Reference

Frequent Exa parameter-shape, over-specification, and deprecation mistakes, with corrections.
  • Base docs URL: https://exa.ai/docs
  • Search coding-agent reference: /reference/search-api-guide-for-coding-agents
  • Contents coding-agent reference: /reference/contents-api-guide-for-coding-agents
  • Monitors coding-agent reference: /reference/monitors-api-guide-for-coding-agents

Over-Specification

The most common failure mode is decorating the recommended request. The recommended search request is query, type: "auto", plus contents: {"highlights": true} and nothing else; every other field needs an explicit task requirement.

Shape and Deprecation Corrections

High-Risk Shape Confusions

Search vs Contents

  • search endpoint: nested contents
  • contents endpoint: top-level text, highlights, summary
  • context endpoint: tokensNum
  • search endpoint: content sizing belongs under contents.text.maxCharacters
Last modified on August 13, 2026