> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.videograph.ai/llms.txt).
> Use it to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Monitoring Processing & Content Status

Learn how to poll the content status API to know when your uploaded video has finished processing and is ready for playback.

## When to monitor content status

After you upload and ingest a video, it enters the processing pipeline. Before you attempt playback, you should confirm that processing has completed.\
Use the `GET /video/services/api/v1/contents/{CONTENT_ID}` endpoint to check the current status.

To review upload steps, see [Uploading Videos (Dashboard & API)](/vod-uploading-ingesting). To begin playback, see [Playing Videos (Web & App Integration)](/web-sdk-player).

## Key status values

When you create content, the API returns a content ID, a playback ID, and an initial status.

The main status values are

- `Preparing`: The content has been created and is still being processed.

- `Ready`: Processing has finished, and playback URLs are available.

<Callout kind="info" collapsed="false">
  The `status` value appears in the response payload under the nested `data` object.
</Callout>

## Check status with the API

### cURL example

<Request show-lines="true" tabs={[]}>
  ```bash
  curl --request GET \
    --url https://api.videograph.ai/video/services/api/v1/contents/CONTENT_ID \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "authorization: Basic APITOKEN"
  ```
</Request>

### Node example

<CodeGroup show-lines="true" tabs={[]}>
  ```javascript
  import fetch from "node-fetch";

  async function getStatus(contentId, apiToken) {
    const res = await fetch(
      `https://api.videograph.ai/video/services/api/v1/contents/${contentId}`,
      {
        method: "GET",
        headers: {
          accept: "application/json",
          authorization: `Basic ${apiToken}`
        }
      }
    );

    return res.json();
  }
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Example response fields

<Response show-lines="true" tabs={[]}>
  ```json
  {
    "code": 200,
    "data": {
      "contentId": "fa6d3dc8-c78c-4c67-98ef",
      "status": "Preparing",
      "statusId": 1,
      "playbackPolicy": ["public"],
      "title": "Demo Video",
      "duration": 0
    },
    "message": "Data success",
    "status": "Success"
  }
  ```
</Response>

## Poll until content is ready

Use a simple polling loop to wait until the content reaches status `Ready`.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Call the status endpoint periodically" icon="refresh-ccw" title-type="p">
    ```javascript
    // pseudo-code
    while (true) {
      const res = await getStatus("CONTENT_ID", "APITOKEN");
      const status = res.data.status;

      if (status === "Ready") {
        break;
      }

      // wait a short interval before polling again
      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 5000));
    }
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Proceed to playback" icon="play-circle" title-type="p">
    Once the status is `Ready`, you may safely request HLS playback URLs or embed the player.\
    See [Playing Videos (Web & App Integration)](/web-sdk-player) for playback guidance.
  </Step>
</Steps>