> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cortecs.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cortecs.ai/integration-examples/tooling/openai-sdk.md).

# OpenAI SDK

Use the official OpenAI SDKs with Cortecs

The official OpenAI Python and JavaScript SDKs can call Cortecs through its compatible APIs. Prefer the Responses API for new agent workflows and use Chat Completions when a library or model requires it.

{% hint style="info" %}
Create a Cortecs API key by following the [Member quickstart](/member-quickstart.md), then choose a model with the required capabilities from the [Models API](/api/models.md).
{% endhint %}

## Responses API

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Python" %}
Install the SDK:

```bash
pip install openai
```

```python
import os
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.cortecs.ai/v1",
    api_key=os.environ["CORTECS_API_KEY"],
)

response = client.responses.create(
    model=os.environ["CORTECS_MODEL"],
    instructions="Answer concisely.",
    input="Name three uses for semantic search.",
    extra_body={"preference": "balanced"},
)

print(response.output_text)
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="JavaScript" %}
Install the SDK:

```bash
npm install openai
```

```javascript
import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.cortecs.ai/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.CORTECS_API_KEY,
});

const response = await client.responses.create({
  model: process.env.CORTECS_MODEL,
  instructions: "Answer concisely.",
  input: "Name three uses for semantic search.",
});

console.log(response.output_text);
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

The JavaScript SDK does not expose Cortecs routing fields as typed parameters. Set project defaults in Cortecs or use a client that supports custom request body fields when per-request routing is required.

## Chat Completions fallback

Use this shape when a dependency only supports Chat Completions:

```python
completion = client.chat.completions.create(
    model=os.environ["CORTECS_MODEL"],
    messages=[
        {"role": "system", "content": "Answer concisely."},
        {"role": "user", "content": "Name three uses for semantic search."},
    ],
    extra_body={"preference": "balanced"},
)

print(completion.choices[0].message.content)
```

The fallback endpoint is `https://api.cortecs.ai/v1/chat/completions`. See [API Compatibility](/api/api-compatibility.md) before translating more advanced Responses requests.

For request-shape differences, see OpenAI's [Responses migration guide](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/migrate-to-responses). Cortecs compatibility is limited to the fields in the Cortecs API reference.