---
title: Set up Elasticsearch for search
description: Prepare {{es}} for search by selecting a deployment type, then connecting with an endpoint, API key, and language client.
url: https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/8603/solutions/search/set-up
products:
  - Elastic Documentation
applies_to:
  - Elastic Cloud Serverless: Generally available
  - Elastic Stack: Generally available
---

# Set up Elasticsearch for search
If you're building search on Elasticsearch, start here. These pages take you from selecting where to run Elasticsearch to sending your first request from code.
1. [Get Elasticsearch running for search](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/8603/solutions/search/set-up/get-elasticsearch-running-for-search): Compare fully managed and self-managed options, and select the one that fits how much infrastructure you want to run.
2. [Get your Elasticsearch endpoint and API key](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/8603/solutions/search/set-up/api-key-and-endpoints): Find your endpoint URL and create an API key.
3. [Connect programmatically](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/8603/solutions/search/set-up/connect-with-an-sdk): Connect with an SDK, install a language client, and send a request from code. If you don't want to connect programmatically, you can also get started with Elasticsearch in the Kibana [Dev Tools Console](https://docs-v3-preview.elastic.dev/elastic/docs-content/pull/8603/explore-analyze/query-filter/tools/console).