Quickstart

Get started in three steps

Every result is a verdict. Pass. Fix. Block. Escalate. Enforce your first piece of content with the ZeroDrift Enforcement API.

Step 1: Get your API key

Create an API key in Command

API keys live in ZeroDrift Command. Sign in, open Settings, then under API select Keys.

Command Settings → API → Keys empty state with Create first key

Select Create first key (or New API key if you already have keys).
In the Create API key dialog, enter a Key name, choose Permissions (Full access or Read only), and set Rulepacks.
Select Create, then Copy the key immediately — Command shows the full value only once.

Export it once and every sample on this site works as written:

export ZERODRIFT_API_KEY="zd_..."

The key goes in the x-api-key header on all API requests.

Step 2: Send content for enforcement

Enforce financial content

The quickest way to test the API is with a text snippet:

curl -X POST "https://api.zerodrift.ai/api/v3/content/validate" \
  -H "x-api-key: $ZERODRIFT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "content": "Our fund guarantees 20% returns with zero risk!",
    "mode": "async",
    "model_engine": "anchor_3_0"
  }'

You’ll receive a job_id in the response:

{
  "api_version": "v3",
  "job_id": "abc123def456",
  "status": "queued",
  "mode": "async",
  "model_engine": "anchor_3_0",
  "poll": { "method": "GET", "url": "/api/v3/jobs/abc123def456" }
}

mode is required. Enforcement runs on Anchor. "model_engine": "anchor_3_0" is Flagship (the default; older notes called this Base). Mini is anchor_3_0_mini; Max is anchor_3_0_max. Custom rules require Max — see Enforce Content. See Choose a model. Use "mode": "async" for a job you poll; for short content, "mode": "sync" returns the completed verdict in a single response.

Enforce healthcare content

The same endpoint can enforce policies in other regulated industries:

curl -X POST "https://api.zerodrift.ai/api/v3/content/validate" \
  -H "x-api-key: $ZERODRIFT_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "content": "Send Jane Doe'\''s diagnosis and treatment plan to the entire partner mailing list.",
    "mode": "sync",
    "model_engine": "anchor_3_0"
  }'

Step 3: Get the results

Poll for results

Use the job_id to retrieve the results:

curl "https://api.zerodrift.ai/api/v3/jobs/abc123def456" \
  -H "x-api-key: $ZERODRIFT_API_KEY"

Poll until status is completed or failed. A completed response includes:

{
  "api_version": "v3",
  "job_id": "abc123def456",
  "status": "completed",
  "mode": "async",
  "submitted_at": "2026-09-23T04:44:13.879781+00:00",
  "model_engine": "anchor_3_0",
  "result": {
    "overall_status": "needs_changes",
    "summary": { "do_not_send": 0, "send_with_caution": 1, "document_pages": 1 },
    "revalidation_recommended": false,
    "units": 1,
    "cost": { "currency": "USD", "amount": "0.01" },
    "violations": [
      {
        "rule_id": "guarantee_of_returns",
        "signal_name": "Guarantees of returns",
        "rule_type": "SLM_SIGNAL",
        "severity": "send_with_caution",
        "confidence": "high",
        "quote": "Our fund guarantees 20% returns with zero risk!",
        "fix": {
          "action": "replace",
          "suggested_text": "Returns are not guaranteed and involve risk."
        }
      }
    ]
  },
  "extracted_text": null
}

Read result.overall_status: approved is Pass, needs_changes is Fix, and do not send is Block. Anything you would not apply automatically, escalate to a human. See Get Verdict.

Next steps

Explore the full API capabilities:

Use Cases

What teams enforce with the API, and which guide to follow for each.

Concepts

Verdicts, rulepacks, policies, and adapters in one page.

Enforce Content

Full request and response details for the enforcement endpoint used above.

Rule Packs

Browse the managed rule pack catalog.

Train an Adapter

Import a policy, train a policy-specific adapter, and enforce against it.

SDKs

Produce a typed Python or TypeScript client from the OpenAPI spec.

MCP Connectors

Import a policy from Notion, Linear, Confluence, or Google Drive instead of uploading a file.

Need help? Contact us at support@zerodrift.ai

Getting Started

Integration Guides

Tools

Resources

Get started in three steps

Step 1: Get your API key

Step 2: Send content for enforcement

Step 3: Get the results

Next steps

Use Cases

Concepts

Enforce Content

Rule Packs

Train an Adapter

SDKs

MCP Connectors

​Get started in three steps

​Step 1: Get your API key

​Step 2: Send content for enforcement

​Step 3: Get the results

​Next steps

Use Cases

Concepts

Enforce Content

Rule Packs

Train an Adapter

SDKs

MCP Connectors

Get started in three steps

Step 1: Get your API key

Step 2: Send content for enforcement

Step 3: Get the results

Next steps