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

# Preview

> Test FindAll queries with a small sample of candidates before committing to full runs

<div className="sr-only" aria-hidden="false">
  For AI agents: a documentation index is available at [https://docs.parallel.ai/llms.txt](https://docs.parallel.ai/llms.txt). The full text of all docs is at [https://docs.parallel.ai/llms-full.txt](https://docs.parallel.ai/llms-full.txt). You may also fetch any page as Markdown by appending `.md` to its URL or sending `Accept: text/markdown`.
</div>

Preview mode lets you quickly and inexpensively test your FindAll queries with a small sample of candidates before committing to a full run. It's ideal for validating your match conditions and enrichments.

**When to use preview:**

* Test query structure before running on large datasets
* Validate match conditions work as expected
* Iterate quickly on FindAll schema and descriptions

## How Preview Works

Preview mode uses the same API endpoint as regular FindAll runs, but with `generator: "preview"`. It generates approximately 10 evaluated candidates (both matched and unmatched) to give you a representative sample of results.

## Preview vs. Full Run

| Feature                  | Preview Mode   | Full Run                          |
| ------------------------ | -------------- | --------------------------------- |
| **Generator**            | `preview`      | `base`, `core`, `pro`             |
| **Candidates Generated** | \~10 evaluated | Until `match_limit` matches found |
| **Match Limit**          | Up to 10       | 5 to 1000 (inclusive)             |
| **Speed**                | Fast (minutes) | Slower (varies by generator)      |
| **Cost**                 | Flat, cheap    | Variable, higher                  |
| **Outputs**              | Full           | Full                              |
| **Enrichments**          | ❌ No           | ✅ Yes                             |
| **Can Extend**           | ❌ No           | ✅ Yes                             |
| **Can Cancel**           | ❌ No           | ✅ Yes                             |

### Key Characteristics

* **Fast & Cost-Effective**: Much faster and cheaper than full runs
* **Sample Size**: Generates \~10 evaluated candidates with no guarantee of match rate
* **Full Outputs**: Candidates include full match outputs, reasoning, and citations (just like regular runs)
* **Capped Limit**: `match_limit` is capped at 10 and interpreted as candidates to evaluate, not matches to find
* **No Modifications**: Cannot be extended or cancelled after creation

<Note>
  Preview candidates follow the same structure as full run candidates. See [Candidates](/findall-api/core-concepts/findall-candidates) for details on candidate object structure and fields.
</Note>

## Quick Example

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={"system"}
  curl -X POST "https://api.parallel.ai/v1beta/findall/runs" \
    -H "x-api-key: $PARALLEL_API_KEY" \
    -H "parallel-beta: findall-2025-09-15" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -d '{
      "objective": "FindAll portfolio companies of Khosla Ventures founded after 2020",
      "entity_type": "companies",
      "match_conditions": [
        {
          "name": "khosla_ventures_portfolio_check",
          "description": "Company must be a portfolio company of Khosla Ventures."
        },
        {
          "name": "founded_after_2020_check",
          "description": "Company must have been founded after 2020."
        }
      ],
      "generator": "preview",
      "match_limit": 10
    }'
  ```

  ```python Python theme={"system"}
  from parallel import Parallel

  client = Parallel(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

  findall_run = client.beta.findall.create(
      objective="FindAll portfolio companies of Khosla Ventures founded after 2020",
      entity_type="companies",
      match_conditions=[
          {
              "name": "khosla_ventures_portfolio_check",
              "description": "Company must be a portfolio company of Khosla Ventures."
          },
          {
              "name": "founded_after_2020_check",
              "description": "Company must have been founded after 2020."
          }
      ],
      generator="preview",
      match_limit=10
  )
  ```

  ```typescript TypeScript theme={"system"}
  import Parallel from 'parallel-web';

  const client = new Parallel({
    apiKey: process.env.PARALLEL_API_KEY
  });

  const run = await client.beta.findall.create({
    objective: "FindAll portfolio companies of Khosla Ventures founded after 2020",
    entity_type: "companies",
    match_conditions: [
      {
        name: "khosla_ventures_portfolio_check",
        description: "Company must be a portfolio company of Khosla Ventures."
      },
      {
        name: "founded_after_2020_check",
        description: "Company must have been founded after 2020."
      }
    ],
    generator: "preview",
    match_limit: 10
  });
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Best Practices

1. **Always Preview First**: Run preview to validate match conditions before committing to full searches
2. **Review Both Results**: Check matched and unmatched candidates to refine your query logic
3. **Test Enrichments Early**: Validate enrichment outputs in preview before running at scale
4. **Examine Reasoning**: Review the `basis` field to understand how matches were determined
5. **Iterate Quickly**: Use preview's fast feedback loop to refine queries before full runs

## Related Topics

* **[Quickstart Guide](/findall-api/findall-quickstart)**: Get started with FindAll API
* **[Generators and Pricing](/findall-api/core-concepts/findall-generator-pricing)**: Understand generator options and pricing
* **[Enrichments](/findall-api/features/findall-enrich)**: Extract additional structured data for matched candidates
* **[Extend Runs](/findall-api/features/findall-extend)**: Increase match limits without paying new fixed costs
* **[Streaming Events](/findall-api/features/findall-sse)**: Receive real-time updates via Server-Sent Events
* **[Webhooks](/findall-api/features/findall-webhook)**: Configure HTTP callbacks for run completion and matches
* **[Run Lifecycle](/findall-api/core-concepts/findall-lifecycle)**: Understand run statuses and how to cancel runs
* **[API Reference](/api-reference/findall/create-findall-run)**: Complete endpoint documentation