# Make your first API call

In this quick start guide, you will learn how to make your first API call against a CARTO API.

## Get a token to call the API

Create an API Access Token using the[ API Access Tokens UI](https://docs.carto.com/carto-user-manual/developers/managing-credentials/api-access-tokens#creating-an-api-access-token).

1. Allow SQL API and LDS API
2. Choose the CARTO Data Warehouse connection. Choose `carto_dw`
3. Select allow access to all sources

{% hint style="info" %}
Don't share this token
{% endhint %}

## SQL API request

We're going to execute the following query against the CARTO Data Warehouse:

```sql
SELECT geom, name FROM `carto-demo-data.demo_tables.populated_places` 
```

The following [CURL](https://curl.se/) command will perform the request:

<pre class="language-bash"><code class="lang-bash"><strong>curl --get \
</strong>--url https://direct-gcp-us-east1.api.carto.com/v3/sql/carto_dw/query \
--data-urlencode "q=SELECT geom, name FROM carto-demo-data.demo_tables.populated_places" \
--header "Authorization: Bearer &#x3C;API_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
</code></pre>

## LDS API Request

The following [CURL](https://curl.se/) command will geocode Valverde del Camino:

```bash
curl --get \
--url https://gcp-us-east1.api.carto.com/v3/lds/geocoding/geocode \
--data-urlencode "address=Valverde del Camino" \
--header "Authorization:  <API_ACCESS_TOKEN>"
```