Overview

This article summarizes how to use the OpenAI Response API for text generation. It covers the official documentation, how to obtain an API key, and a minimal Python example.

What is the Response API?

The Response API is OpenAI’s unified API for text generation, tool calls, and multi-turn interactions. It works for both one-off requests and conversational workflows.

Official documentation

The most reliable source for the latest specs is the official documentation.

• Response API reference: https://platform.openai.com/docs/api-reference/responses

How to get an API key

You need an OpenAI API key to use the Response API. Follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the OpenAI dashboard
2. Open the API Keys page: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys
3. Create a new key with “Create new secret key”

Store the key in an environment variable for safety.

1

export OPENAI_API_KEY="<YOUR_API_KEY>"

Python sample code

Install the Python SDK with uv:

1

uv pip install openai

Below is a minimal sample that calls the Response API.

 1
 2
 3
 4
 5
 6
 7
 8
 9
10

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI()

response = client.responses.create(
    model="gpt-4.1-mini",
    input="Summarize the key features of the Response API in 3 lines.",
)

print(response.output_text)

Example output

1
2
3

The Response API is a unified endpoint for one-off and conversational generation.
It lets you retrieve model output with a simple request structure.
Start with the docs and expand as your use case grows.

Summary

The Response API is a straightforward way to generate text with OpenAI. Check the docs, prepare an API key, and try the Python SDK for a smooth start.