> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.knowbase.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.knowbase.ai/api-reference/collections.md).

# Collections

Collections let you group files together for targeted querying. When you chat with a collection, only the files in that collection are searched.

***

## Create a collection

`POST` `https://api.knowbase.ai/api/v1/collections`

#### Headers

| Name            | Type   | Description             |
| --------------- | ------ | ----------------------- |
| Authorization\* | string | `Bearer YOUR_API_TOKEN` |
| Content-Type\*  | string | `application/json`      |

#### Request Body

| Name        | Type   | Description                        |
| ----------- | ------ | ---------------------------------- |
| name\*      | string | Name of the collection             |
| file\_ids\* | array  | List of file ID strings to include |

```json
{
  "name": "Q4 Reports",
  "file_ids": [
    "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
    "b2c3d4e5-f6a7-8901-bcde-f12345678901"
  ]
}
```

#### Response (201: Created)

```json
{
  "id": "c3d4e5f6-a7b8-9012-cdef-123456789012",
  "name": "Q4 Reports",
  "created_at": "2025-03-15",
  "files": [
    {"id": "a1b2c3d4-...", "filename": "report.pdf", "type": "pdf", "status": "success"},
    {"id": "b2c3d4e5-...", "filename": "analysis.docx", "type": "word", "status": "success"}
  ]
}
```

***

## List all collections

`GET` `https://api.knowbase.ai/api/v1/collections`

#### Response (200: OK)

```json
{
  "collections": [
    {
      "id": "c3d4e5f6-a7b8-9012-cdef-123456789012",
      "name": "Q4 Reports",
      "created_at": "2025-03-15",
      "files": [
        {"id": "a1b2c3d4-...", "filename": "report.pdf", "type": "pdf", "status": "success"}
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

***

## Get collection details

`GET` `https://api.knowbase.ai/api/v1/collections/{collection_id}`

Returns the collection with its files.

***

## Delete a collection

`DELETE` `https://api.knowbase.ai/api/v1/collections/{collection_id}`

Deletes the collection. **The files inside are NOT deleted** -- they remain in your library.

#### Response (200: OK)

```json
{
  "message": "Collection deleted successfully"
}
```

***

### Example: Create and query a collection

```python
import requests

TOKEN = "YOUR_API_TOKEN"
BASE = "https://api.knowbase.ai/api/v1"
headers = {"Authorization": f"Bearer {TOKEN}", "Content-Type": "application/json"}

# Create a collection
collection = requests.post(f"{BASE}/collections", headers=headers, json={
    "name": "Research Papers",
    "file_ids": ["file-id-1", "file-id-2", "file-id-3"]
}).json()

# Chat with the collection
answer = requests.post(f"{BASE}/chat", headers=headers, json={
    "question": "What are the common themes across these papers?",
    "collection_id": collection["id"]
}).json()

print(answer["answer"])
```


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.knowbase.ai/api-reference/collections.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.