Grok API Documentation: Complete Guide for Developers


Grok API Documentation

Introduction

The Grok API, developed by xAI, gives developers access to Grok 4, one of the most advanced large language models on the market. With support for text, vision, function calling, and structured outputs, Grok 4 is optimized for high-performance applications requiring deep reasoning and real-time automation. This article serves as a detailed overview of the Grok API documentation, covering everything from authentication to request formats, pricing, and integration strategies.

Overview of Grok API Documentation

The Grok API documentation, available on the xAI Developer Portal (login required), includes:

  • API Reference

  • Authentication Setup

  • Model Capabilities and Parameters

  • Integration Guides for OpenAI-Compatible Apps

  • Function Calling and Streaming Features

It is tailored for developers building:

  • Intelligent assistants

  • Research tools

  • AI-driven automation

  • Multimodal content platforms



Getting Started

1. Account Registration & API Key

  • Sign Up at console.x.ai

  • Choose a subscription plan:

    • SuperGrok for full Grok 4 access

    • Heavy Plan ($300/month) for multi-agent and parallel tool use

  • Generate your API Key and store it securely

2. Authentication Format

All requests require Bearer Token authentication:

http
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY Content-Type: application/json


API Endpoints

Endpoint Type URL Description
Chat Completions https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completions Main endpoint for Grok 4 text & multimodal
Function Calling Same as above Supports tool integration & structured output
Third-Party (OpenRouter) https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions OpenRouter proxy with same request format

Request Format

The Grok API is OpenAI/Anthropic-compatible, making migration seamless for teams already using GPT or Claude APIs.

Example JSON Payload:

json
{ "model": "grok-4", "messages": [ {"role": "user", "content": "Explain Grok API documentation."} ], "max_tokens": 200 }

Python Example:

python
import requests url = "https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completions" headers = { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY", "Content-Type": "application/json" } data = { "model": "grok-4", "messages": [ {"role": "user", "content": "Explain Grok API documentation."} ], "max_tokens": 200 } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data) print(response.json())


Key Features of Grok API

  • 256,000-token context window – Handle long documents, full codebases, or research history

  • Function calling – Define APIs or tools Grok can call during reasoning

  • Structured outputs – JSON, tables, and other machine-readable formats

  • Multimodal support – Text available now; vision and image generation rolling out

  • Streaming – For real-time apps like chatbots, dashboards, or co-pilots

Pricing Overview

Model Input Price (per 1M tokens) Output Price (per 1M tokens) Context Window
Grok 4 $3.00 $15.00 256,000 tokens
Grok 3 $3.00 $15.00 131,072 tokens
Grok 3-mini $0.30 $0.50 131,072 tokens

Note: Some third-party providers like OpenRouter may offer their own rates or free trial credits.

Advanced Capabilities

Function Calling

Integrate Grok with external APIs, automation systems, or dynamic services by defining callable functions in your payload.

Structured Output

Design prompts to return clean data in JSON, CSV, or table formats for:

  • Dashboards

  • Reporting engines

  • Low-code platforms

Streaming & Multi-Agent Use

Enable streaming for fast feedback and low latency. The Heavy subscription unlocks parallel tool use and multi-agent collaboration, making it ideal for research agents or autonomous workflows.



Documentation & Support

Official Documentation

Available inside the xAI Developer Portal.
Includes:

  • Endpoint specs

  • Integration guides

  • Prompt formatting techniques

  • Code examples

Support Options

  • Email: support@x.ai

  • Developer Forums

  • Discord Community for real-time help

Quick Reference Table

Feature Details
Model Name grok-4
Context Length 256,000 tokens
Function Calling Yes
Structured Output JSON, tables, etc.
Multimodal Input Text now, vision/image coming soon
Streaming Support Yes
API Compatibility OpenAI, Anthropic (chat/completions)
Proxy Access Options OpenRouter, CometAPI

FAQ's

1. What are the key features highlighted in the official Grok API documentation?

The official Grok API documentation emphasizes several standout features designed for powerful and flexible LLM-based development:

  • Advanced Reasoning Engine – Built on Grok 4, enabling complex multi-step logic and language understanding.

  • Massive Context Window – Up to 256,000 tokens, allowing long-form conversations, full document analysis, and persistent session context.

  • Function Calling – Integrate external tools, APIs, and interpreters via dynamic function execution schemas.

  • Structured Output Support – Returns machine-readable formats like JSON and tabular data.

  • Multimodal Input – Text is fully supported, with vision and image generation rolling out.

  • Streaming Responses – Enables real-time UI applications with partial outputs and faster feedback.

  • OpenAI/Anthropic Compatibility – Works seamlessly with existing GPT-4 or Claude integrations using the same request formats.

2. How do I authenticate and make my first request to the Grok API?

To authenticate and send your first request, follow these steps:

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Create an xAI Account: Sign up at console.x.ai.

  2. Subscribe: Choose a suitable plan like SuperGrok or Heavy.

  3. Generate API Key: In the developer dashboard, go to API Keys and copy your token securely.

Authentication Format:

Include the following in your request headers:

h
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY Content-Type: application/json

Example Python Request:

python
import requests url = "https://api.x.ai/v1/chat/completions" headers = { "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY", "Content-Type": "application/json" } data = { "model": "grok-4", "messages": [ {"role": "user", "content": "Summarize the key features of Grok API."} ], "max_tokens": 200 } response = requests.post(url, headers=headers, json=data) print(response.json())

3. What are common use cases and examples provided in Grok API docs?

The documentation outlines a variety of high-impact use cases:

  • AI Assistants & Chatbots: Long-memory support and reasoning for personalized agents.

  • Data Extraction: Extract structured data from unstructured text (e.g., legal, medical, academic).

  • Customer Support: Multi-turn interactions with real-time web search and custom tool calling.

  • Code Generation: Use Grok 4’s advanced coding capabilities via specialized prompts or function calling.

  • Multimodal Applications: Visual understanding, image captioning, and hybrid text-image queries (in beta/rollout).

  • Analytics & Reporting: Use structured outputs for clean integration with business dashboards or databases.

Each use case includes payload examples, output structures, and best practices.

4. How does Grok API handle data privacy and security according to its documentation?

The Grok API documentation emphasizes enterprise-grade privacy and compliance:

  • Token-Based Access Control: Only valid API keys grant access; tokens can be scoped, revoked, or rotated.

  • SOC 2 Type II Compliant: Ensures rigorous internal controls on data access and storage.

  • GDPR & CCPA Compliance: Aligns with major global data protection standards.

  • Encryption: All API traffic is encrypted in transit using HTTPS; sensitive data is encrypted at rest.

  • Data Isolation: User data is not used for model training or shared between tenants.

This makes Grok API suitable for regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and enterprise SaaS.

5. What updates or new features are announced in the latest Grok API version?

The latest Grok API version introduces or enhances several capabilities:

  • Multimodal Expansion: Vision support and image generation are being rolled out, enhancing Grok’s ability to understand and generate visual content.

  • Streaming Enhancements: Real-time response streaming is now more stable and accessible for dynamic front-end apps.

  • Parallel Tool Use (Heavy Plan): The “Heavy” variant of Grok 4 supports multi-agent collaboration and parallel execution of external tools.

  • OpenRouter & CometAPI Compatibility: Official support for proxy access through third-party gateways like OpenRouter and CometAPI.

  • Improved Function Schema Support: Enhanced documentation and validation tools for defining and testing callable functions inside payloads.

The xAI team frequently updates documentation to reflect these additions, often accompanied by changelogs or version notes within the developer portal.

Conclusion

The Grok API documentation is a robust and developer-friendly resource for building intelligent, real-time, and scalable applications powered by xAI’s Grok 4. With features like multimodal inputs, large context windows, structured outputs, and function calling, Grok 4 is one of the most flexible and powerful LLM APIs available today.