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Guide

Create Monitor

11 stepsAgent View (JSON)

Overview

Monitors in Exa automatically execute your search queries on a recurring schedule, keeping your Websets updated with the latest web data without manual intervention. This is essential for applications that need real-time or near-real-time web intelligence—such as market research, competitive intelligence, or AI training data pipelines. By defining a monitor with a search query, update frequency, and optional JSON schema filtering, you enable continuous data collection that powers your live web integration.

Before you begin

  • You have an active Exa account and are logged into https://dashboard.exa.ai
  • You have access to the Monitors section of the dashboard (available to most account tiers)
  • You have a clear search query in mind (e.g., a topic, domain, or data pattern you want to monitor)
  • You understand your desired monitoring frequency (hourly, daily, etc.) based on your use case

Step by step

1
ClickMonitors NEW

Navigate to the Monitors section by clicking the 'Monitors NEW' link in the top navigation of your Exa dashboard. This opens the monitors creation interface.

Tip. The 'NEW' badge indicates this is a newly released or recently updated feature; the Monitors section may be highlighted or promoted in the navigation.
Step 1
2
ClickEnter a search query for the monitor...

Click on the search query input field (labeled 'Enter a search query for the monitor...') to focus it and prepare to enter your search criteria.

Step 2
3
TypeEnter a search query for the monitor...

Type your search query into the textbox. This query defines what data the monitor will track (e.g., 'AI startups', 'technology news', or a specific domain). This is the core logic of your monitor.

Tip. Use specific keywords and logical operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search. Test your query in Exa Search first (exa.ai/search) to ensure it returns relevant results before creating the monitor.
4
ClickDaily

Click the 'Daily' button to open the frequency selection menu. This shows the current default frequency setting.

Step 4
5
TypeEnter a search query for the monitor...

Type additional search query refinements into the textbox if needed. The textbox remains active for further edits.

Tip. If you accidentally clicked Daily, you can continue refining your query; the frequency selection will remain open and you can switch to Hourly in the next step.
6
ClickHourly

Click the 'Hourly' button to set the monitor to run every hour. This ensures frequent updates to your Webset with the latest matching data.

Tip. Choose 'Hourly' for time-sensitive data (e.g., breaking news, market movements). For less urgent data, 'Daily' consumes fewer API calls and is more cost-efficient. Your account plan may limit available frequencies.
Step 6
7
TypeEnter a search query for the monitor...

Type any final refinements to your search query if needed. The textbox remains editable until you proceed to the next step.

8
Clickswitch

Click the toggle switch to enable JSON schema filtering. This allows you to define structured output requirements for the monitor's results (optional but recommended for precise data collection).

Tip. Enable schema filtering if you need results in a specific JSON format or want to ensure only certain fields are returned. Leave it off if you want raw search results without filtering.
Step 8
9
TypeDescribe the JSON schema you need or paste valid JSON

Click on the JSON schema textbox (labeled 'Describe the JSON schema you need or paste valid JSON') and enter either a natural language description of your desired output format or a valid JSON schema object. This defines what data fields and structure you expect from monitor results.

Tip. You can describe the schema in plain English (e.g., 'Return title, URL, and publication date') or paste a valid JSON schema example. The Generate button will help convert descriptions into structured schemas.
Warning. Ensure your JSON is valid—invalid syntax will cause the monitor creation to fail. Use tools like jsonlint.com to validate before pasting.
10
ClickGenerate

Click the 'Generate' button to automatically convert your JSON schema description into a valid schema structure. This validates and formats your schema requirements.

Tip. The Generate feature uses AI to interpret your natural language description and create a proper JSON schema. If the result isn't quite right, edit the generated schema or provide more specific details and click Generate again.
Step 10
11
ClickCreate monitor

Click the 'Create monitor' button to finalize and activate your new monitor. The monitor will be saved and begin executing according to your specified frequency (hourly).

Tip. After creation, you'll be redirected to the monitor detail page where you can view status, past runs, and adjust settings. Your monitor will start its first scheduled run within a few moments.
Warning. Once created, the monitor will continuously execute and consume API quota. Verify your search query and frequency are correct before clicking Create, as editing active monitors may have consequences for running schedules.
Step 11

Confirm it worked

  1. 1After clicking 'Create monitor', you are redirected to the monitor detail page showing your newly created monitor with a confirmation message
  2. 2The monitor appears in your Monitors list on the dashboard with the correct name, frequency (Hourly), and schema settings
  3. 3The monitor status shows as 'Active' or 'Ready' and you can see the next scheduled run time
  4. 4You receive a confirmation that the monitor will begin executing at the next scheduled interval

Common issues

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