##Peruse the documentation

See [this question][1] for details on our automated help system.  
Additional help can be found here on stackapps.

##Example Call

The [stats method][2].  

 - http://api.stackoverflow.com/0.8/stats
   - api.stackoverflow.com - the site to query
   - 0.8 - the api version
   - stats - the method

**Response**

    {
      "statistics": [
        {
          "total_questions": 680175,
          "total_unanswered": 104562,
          "total_answers": 1910940,
          "total_comments": 2678849,
          "total_votes": 6720440,
          "total_badges": 688675,
          "total_users": 242593,
          "questions_per_minute": 1.75,
          "answers_per_minute": 3.76,
          "badges_per_minute": 1.55,
          "api_version": {
            "version": "0.8",
            "revision": "1.0.1234.5678"
          }
        }
      ]
    }

##API Keys

A single IP can only make a limited number of requests per day to the API.  This limit is determined at *first request* time, and is dependent upon the presence of an API key.

API daily limits:  

 - Key: 10,000
 - No Key: 300

The `No Key` limit is meant to facilitate experimentation, not for deployed apps.

Requests with invalid or revoked keys are not completed, they are not stepped down to the `No Key` limit.

###[Register for an API Key][3]

##Releasing Apps
Announce new applications on stackapps by creating a question with the `[app]` tag.  Refer to this [example app][4] for the suggested formatting of an announcement.


  [1]: http://stackapps.com/questions/1/api-documentation-and-help
  [2]: http://api.stackoverflow.com/0.8/stats?help
  [3]: http://stackapps.com/app/register
  [4]: http://stackapps.com/questions/3/the-worlds-worst-stackoverflow-clone