# Getting User Requests

> Use the Request API to retrieve user-specific requests, allowing you to monitor, debug, and track costs for individual users.

import QuestionsSection from "/snippets/questions-section.mdx";

The [Request API](/rest/request/post-v1requestquery) allows you to build a request, where you can specify filtering criteria to retrieve all requests made by a user.

<Note>
  **API Endpoint Note:** This guide uses the `/v1/request/query` endpoint which is optimized for small to medium datasets.

  For **large datasets or bulk exports**, use the [/v1/request/query-clickhouse](/rest/request/post-v1requestquery-clickhouse) endpoint instead, which has a different filter structure:
  - `/query` uses `request` wrapper: `{"filter": {"request": {"user_id": {...}}}}`
  - `/query-clickhouse` uses `request_response_rmt` wrapper: `{"filter": {"request_response_rmt": {"user_id": {...}}}}`
</Note>

<Frame>
  <img
    src="/images/use-cases/example-user-request.png"
    alt="Helicone Request API example showing how you can built a request and specify filtering criteria and other advanced capabilities."
  />
</Frame>

## Use Cases

- Monitor your user's usage pattern and behavior.
- Access user-specific requests to pinpoint the errors and bebug more efficiently.
- Track requests and costs per user to facilitate better cost control.
- Detect unusual or potentially harmful user behaviors.

## Retrieving Requests by User ID

Here's an example to get all the requests where `user_id` is `abc@email.com`.

```bash
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.helicone.ai/v1/request/query \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --header "authorization: Bearer $HELICONE_API_KEY" \
  --data '{
  "filter": {
    "request": {
      "user_id": {
        "equals": "abc@email.com"
      }
    }
  }
}'
```

<Tip>
  By using the [Request API](/rest/request/post-v1requestquery), the code
  snippet will dynamically populate on the page, so you can copy and paste.{" "}
</Tip>

## Adding Additional Filters

You can structure your query to add any number of filters.

**Note**: To add multiple filters, change the filter to a branch and nest the ANDs/ORs as an abstract syntax tree.

```bash
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.helicone.ai/v1/request/query \
  --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
  --header "authorization: Bearer $HELICONE_API_KEY" \
  --data '{
  "filter": {
    "operator": "and",
    "right": {
      "request": {
        "model": {
          "contains": "gpt-4o-mini"
        }
      }
    },
    "left": {
      "request": {
        "user_id": {
          "equals": "abc@email.com"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}'
```

<QuestionsSection />