# Prism Investigate API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/prism/investigate)

> Given `goal`, each step picks the next read-only operation (search TikTok, search Instagram, open a profile found earlier, read a post's comments, or finish) from what earlier steps returned. Code owns the catalogue, removes operations already tried, caps steps and credits, and builds candidate ids from actual responses: the walker never invents a handle or URL. The response is `{ trail, results, stopped_because, credits_used }`. `stopped_because` is `goal_met`, `budget`, `step_limit` or `blocked`. Finish is refused until the walk has enough to answer `goal`. Partial trails are returned when the cap is hit, so you can restart from a step. Leads and labels on gathered rows are signals for your own review.

TL;DR: `GET /v1/prism/investigate` costs Holds `budget` credits (default 40, max 200) up front and refunds what the walk does not spend. Each underlying page is charged at its own price. Deciding the next step is free. and returns SocialCrawl's unified JSON schema. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `goal` | yes | What you want to find, in one or two sentences (max 500 chars). |
| `budget` | no | Credits held up front for the walk (1-200, default 40). Unused credits are refunded. |
| `max_steps` | no | Most steps the walk may take (1-12, default 8). |

## Code example

```bash
curl -G "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/prism/investigate" \
  --data-urlencode "goal=Find Korean skincare creators on TikTok whose commenters ask where to buy" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### What does the Prism Investigate API return?

Returns a trail of read-only searches, profile opens, and comment pulls for a research goal, plus why the walk stopped and the credits used. The response uses the same JSON envelope as every SocialCrawl endpoint, with the data, credits_used and request_id fields.

### When should I use the Prism Investigate endpoint?

Use it when you have a research goal and want a bounded walk across TikTok and Instagram instead of chaining those calls yourself. Unused budget is refunded.

### How much does the Prism Investigate API cost?

Each call costs 1 credit, so the 100 free credits every new account gets cover 100 calls. Credits for failed or empty calls are refunded automatically, and there is no subscription.

### What parameters does the Prism Investigate API need?

The one required parameter is goal (what you want to find, in one or two sentences). It also accepts 2 optional parameters, all listed on this page.

### How do I call the Prism Investigate API?

Send a GET request to https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/prism/investigate?goal=Find%20Korean%20skincare%20creators%20on%20TikTok%20whose%20commenters%20ask%20where%20to%20buy with your API key in the x-api-key header. An Authorization: Bearer header works too.

See the full Prism API: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/prism

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- What does the SocialCrawl Prism Investigate API return?
- How do I get Prism Investigate data with the SocialCrawl API?