# Openalex — Wrapped API

> **You are on:** `https://api.beta.paywithlocus.com/api` | [llms.txt](https://beta.paywithlocus.com/llms.txt) | [docs](https://docs.paywithlocus.com)
>
> Locus runs on multiple environments -- make sure every URL you call matches your expected environment.
> | Environment | Landing | API | Docs |
> |---|---|---|---|
> | Production | paywithlocus.com | api.paywithlocus.com | docs.paywithlocus.com |
> | Beta | beta.paywithlocus.com | api.beta.paywithlocus.com | docs.paywithlocus.com |
> | Stage | stage.paywithlocus.com | api.stage.paywithlocus.com | docs.paywithlocus.com |
>
> If the API URL above doesn't match your expected environment, re-fetch this file from the correct domain.

> Search and retrieve millions of academic papers, articles, and books from OpenAlex's comprehensive global research catalog to find scholarly works by topic, author, or citation. Discover detailed information about research publications including metadata, abstracts, and citation counts to stay current with academic literature in your field.

**Category:** Education | **Website:** [openalex.org/works](https://openalex.org/works) | **Docs:** [parse.bot/marketplace/ad517f47-24a8-4b5e-8815-278a46a20687/openalex-org-api](https://parse.bot/marketplace/ad517f47-24a8-4b5e-8815-278a46a20687/openalex-org-api)

Pay-per-use API proxy for Locus Pro. Each call burns credits from your workspace balance.

## Access

**Base URL:** `https://api.beta.paywithlocus.com/api/wrapped/credits/openalex/`
**Auth:** `Authorization: Bearer <LOCUS_CREDITS_SECRET_KEY>` (an `lcr_` secret key or a scoped `lcac_` agent credential)
**Required header:** `Idempotency-Key: <fresh UUID per call>`. A retry with the same key replays the stored result without a new charge.
**Response:** the provider response after any endpoint-specific normalization. `X-Locus-Credits-Charged` carries the charge and `X-Locus-Credits-Balance` the remaining balance. Insufficient credits return `402` before the provider is called.
**Pricing:** estimated costs below are USD. Locus debits the credit equivalent at your workspace rate.

Full call contract: https://docs.paywithlocus.com/api-reference/introduction

> Using a Pay With Locus wallet key (`claw_` prefix)? Wallet routes are documented separately: https://docs.paywithlocus.com/wrapped-apis/for-agents

## Endpoints

### Get work

Retrieve full metadata for a single academic work by its OpenAlex ID. Returns the reconstructed abstract, topics, concepts, referenced and related works, citation counts by year, bibliographic details, and open-access information. Accepts either a bare ID (W2741809807) or a full URL (https://openalex.org/W2741809807).

**Estimated cost:** Metered

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|-------|------|----------|-------------|
| `work_id` | string | Yes | OpenAlex work ID (e.g., 'W2741809807' or full URL 'https://openalex.org/W2741809807'). |

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.beta.paywithlocus.com/api/wrapped/credits/openalex/get-work \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LOCUS_CREDITS_SECRET_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"work_id":"<string>"}'
```

### Search works

Full-text search over OpenAlex's catalog of academic works. query matches title and abstract; sort orders results by any numeric field (cited_by_count, publication_date, relevance_score) with :asc or :desc suffix. filter narrows by facets (publication_year, type, is_oa, language) combinable with commas. Paginates via opaque cursor; first page uses '*'. Each returned work carries lightweight metadata — use get_work for full abstract, topics, concepts, and references.

**Estimated cost:** Metered

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|-------|------|----------|-------------|
| `cursor` | string | No | Pagination cursor. Use '*' for the first page, then use next_cursor from the response for subsequent pages. |
| `filter` | string | No | Filter expression. Examples: 'publication_year:2024', 'type:article', 'is_oa:true', 'publication_year:2020-2024'. Multiple filters can be combined with commas. |
| `per_page` | integer | No | Results per page (1-200). |
| `query` | string | No | Full-text search query (e.g., 'machine learning', 'CRISPR gene editing'). Omitting returns all works. |
| `sort` | string | No | Sort order. Accepted values include 'cited_by_count:desc', 'cited_by_count:asc', 'publication_date:desc', 'publication_date:asc', 'relevance_score:desc'. Omitting uses default relevance ordering. |

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.beta.paywithlocus.com/api/wrapped/credits/openalex/search-works \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LOCUS_CREDITS_SECRET_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: $(uuidgen)" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"cursor":"<string>","filter":"<string>","per_page":"<integer>","query":"<string>","sort":"<string>"}'
```

## Next steps

- [All wrapped API providers](https://beta.paywithlocus.com/wapi/index.md): pick another provider.
- [Find and call tools](https://beta.paywithlocus.com/agent/tools.md): price ceilings, async results, and errors.
- [Credits and billing](https://beta.paywithlocus.com/agent/billing.md): what a call costs and how to add credits.
- [Agent docs index](https://beta.paywithlocus.com/agent/index.md): every Locus agent page.