> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.contextual.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Platform Quickstart (GUI)

> Create a specialized RAG agent in less than 5 minutes

## Create and Query Your First Agent

This guide walks you through creating a datastore, uploading documents, and building an agent—all through the Contextual AI web interface.

### Step 1: Create an Agent

Log in to app.contextual.ai with your user credentials. On the left-hand side navigation, click on **Agents**.

From the Agents overview page, click on `+ New Agent` to create a new agent. Give your agent an:

1. Agent Name
2. Description

Under **Configuration**, accept the defaults (Template, Agentic Search) and proceed to creating your datastore.

<video controls autoPlay muted loop playsInline className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://mintcdn.com/contextualai/jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J/images/platform-ac1.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J&q=85&s=e02e473e5e6fd3b654c9f89e8f8c946a" data-path="images/platform-ac1.mp4" />

### Step 2: Create a Datastore

Under **Datastores**, click `+ Create new datastore`. Give your new datastore a `Datastore Name`, accept the defaults (File Upload, Unstructured) amd click **Next**.

Go back to your Datastores overview page and click on the name of your new datastore. Click `Upload` to add documents to it. Contextual AI securely stores your documents and parses them in formats optimized for RAG pipelines and agents.

Once your document has been processed, it will display `Processed` as its status.

<video controls autoPlay muted loop playsInline className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://mintcdn.com/contextualai/jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J/images/platform-ac2.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J&q=85&s=ddbfceee115a87187907563903aedb58" data-path="images/platform-ac2.mp4" />

<Note>
  **For best results:**

  * Use renderable PDFs and documents with text that can be copied and pasted.
  * Don’t have your own documents ready? Use these [sample documents](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1e2qfAp6rrpcOGyDdBHwHP-zKzC6K7nyg?usp=drive_link).
</Note>

### Step 3: Prompt Your New Agent

Click `Agents` in the left-hand navigation, followed by the name of your new agent. Try asking your agent a question.

<video controls autoPlay muted loop playsInline className="w-full aspect-video rounded-xl" src="https://mintcdn.com/contextualai/jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J/images/platform-ac3.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=jwCpEHGZTxLMw0_J&q=85&s=5f1d2bbce484ce6a174afd06a391daaa" data-path="images/platform-ac3.mp4" />

<Note>
  **Note:** You can query your agent only after at least one document in the datastore has been fully processed.
</Note>

***

## Next Steps

* [Agent Composer](/quickstarts/agent-composer) — Build custom agent workflows (enterprise) or use templates (self-serve)
* [Platform Quickstart (API)](/quickstarts/platform-api) — Create agents programmatically via the Python SDK
* [Datasources & Connectors](/connectors/overview) — Connect your enterprise data sources