---
title: "Describe an AI Index"
method: GET
path: "/api/context_engine/ai_index/{aiIndexId}/_describe"
tags: ["context engine"]
---

# Describe an AI Index

`GET /api/context_engine/ai_index/{aiIndexId}/_describe`

**Spaces method and path for this operation:**

<div><span class="operation-verb get">get</span>&nbsp;<span class="operation-path">/s/{space_id}/api/context_engine/ai_index/{aiIndexId}/_describe</span></div>

Refer to [Spaces](https://www.elastic.co/docs/deploy-manage/manage-spaces) for more information.

Returns a free-form text context block for an agent. The block describes the AI Index and its ES|QL target. It also includes up to 500 fields exposed by the backing indices, identifies which fields are semantic, provides knowledge item type and tag counts for the current space, and includes example ES|QL queries.

The API reads data as the current user. Elasticsearch index privileges limit which indices the current user can access. A caller who cannot read the backing indices gets a 403 response.

The space comes from the request URL (`/s/{spaceId}/…`) or defaults to the default space. It cannot be specified in any other way.

Returns a 404 response when Context Engine is turned off in this space (`contextEngine:enabled`).

**For more information, refer to the [Context Engine documentation](https://www.elastic.co/docs/explore-analyze/ai-features/context-engine).**<br/><br/>[Required authorization] Route required privileges: contextEngine:read.

## Path parameters

- `aiIndexId` string, required

## Response `200`

A free-form text context block describing the AI Index.

- object
  - `response` string, required — Free-form text context block describing the AI Index for an agent.

## Other responses

- `400` — The description response exceeded the size limit.
- `403` — The caller cannot read the backing indices. Describing an AI Index requires the `read` and `view_index_metadata` index privileges on them.
- `404` — No AI Index with the given ID exists in the current space, or Context Engine is turned off in this space.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/elastic/apis/kibana-apis.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/elastic/apis/kibana-apis/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/elastic/apis/kibana-apis/revisions/a6aad934034f?raw)