---
ref: tool:people-data-labs/search-people
name: Search people
company: company:people-data-labs
workflows: []
access: [api]
tags: [capability:find-prospects, category:data-provider, has:api]
docs: https://docs.peopledatalabs.com/docs/reference-person-search-api
updated: 2026-09-27
---

# Search people

Returns up to 100 person records per call that match an Elasticsearch or SQL query over PDL's person fields, such as job title, employer, location and skills.

Note: Each record returned costs one credit, and `size` defaults to 1 (up to 100): set it, and page with `scroll_token`. Send `query` or `sql`, not both. The default rate limit is 10 requests per minute.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://api.peopledatalabs.com
- Endpoint: `POST /v5/person/search`
- Auth: send the header `X-Api-Key: $PDL_API_KEY`
- Get a key: https://dashboard.peopledatalabs.com/api-keys
- Docs: https://docs.peopledatalabs.com/docs/authentication

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.