# Quickstart

> Go from a running Resta server to a first query in five minutes, with curl and the Turso JavaScript client.

Source: https://resta.dev/docs/quickstart · Updated 2026-11-01

**Once Resta is running, you need three things to query a database: an API key, a database, and a token for that database.** This page takes you from a running server to a first query. To get a server running, see [Install on Coolify](https://resta.dev/docs/install-coolify) or [Install with Docker Compose](https://resta.dev/docs/install-docker).

The examples use `https://db.example.com` as the server's address. Replace it with yours.

## 1. Create your account

Open your server's address in a browser. The first visit shows **Set up this server**: enter an email and a password of at least 10 characters. This is the only account on the server; signup closes once it exists.

## 2. Create an API key

In the dashboard, open **API keys** and choose **New key**. Copy the key, which starts with `blk_`. It is shown once.

```sh
export RESTA_API_KEY=blk_...
```

API keys have full access. Keep them on your backend, never in a browser or mobile app.

## 3. Create a database

```sh
curl -X POST https://db.example.com/v1/databases \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RESTA_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"name": "notes"}'
```

```json
{"name": "notes", "id": "notes-9cbfaa9b", "status": "active", "url": "https://db.example.com/db/notes-9cbfaa9b", "created_at": 1793430777}
```

Names use `a-z`, `0-9` and `-`, up to 40 characters. The `id` adds a short random suffix; the `url` is what clients connect to.

## 4. Create a token for it

```sh
curl -X POST https://db.example.com/v1/databases/notes/tokens \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $RESTA_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"access": "rw", "ttl_secs": 3600}'
```

```json
{"token": "eyJ...", "expires_at": 1793434377}
```

`access` is `rw` (read and write) or `ro` (read only). `ttl_secs` is the lifetime in seconds, up to 30 days by default.

## 5. Query it

```sh
npm install @tursodatabase/serverless
```

```js
import { connect } from '@tursodatabase/serverless';

const db = connect({
  url: 'https://db.example.com/db/notes-9cbfaa9b',
  authToken: process.env.RESTA_DB_TOKEN,
});

await db.exec('CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS notes (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, body TEXT)');
await db.run('INSERT INTO notes (body) VALUES (?)', 'hello');
console.log(await db.all('SELECT * FROM notes'));
```

You can also run SQL in the dashboard: open the database and choose **Console**.

## Next

- [Connecting from code](https://resta.dev/docs/clients): transactions, batches, streaming, and plain HTTP.
- [Backups and restore](https://resta.dev/docs/backups): make sure your backups leave the server.