Getting started with the Gemini API and Web apps

Explore Google AI Studio and the capabilities of the Gemini generative AI model. Learn how to design and test the different types of prompts (freeform, structured, and chat), get an API key, and build a simple NodeJS application.

This pathway is useful for further experimentation with Gemini and lays the groundwork for integrating its features into a web application. Optionally, you can also try out the Gemini API using a simple NodeJS web application. Feel free to skip this step and return back to client-side web development in this pathway.

Note that calling the Gemini API directly from your web app using the Google AI JavaScript SDK is only for prototyping and exploring the Gemini generative AI models. For use cases beyond prototyping (especially production or enterprise-scale apps), use Vertex AI in Firebase instead. It offers an SDK for Web that has additional security features, support for large media file uploads, and streamlined integrations into the Firebase and Google Cloud ecosystem. Alternatively, you can use the Google AI JavaScript SDK to access the Gemini models server-side.

Try out the Gemini API template in Project IDX to quickly get started and experiment with a JavaScript-based web app that uses generative AI. The template contains a fully functioning app for you to quickly prototype with the Gemini API on the web.

Project IDX is an experimental, web-based integrated development environment. It supports a variety of frameworks, including development for both web and cross-platform applications. It is currently available in Public Preview.

The template uses the Vite framework to build a web app that makes multimodal prompts to the Gemini API using the Google AI SDK directly or using LangChain.

To get started, follow the steps to create a new workspace using the "Gemini API" template. Select the "JavaScript Web App" environment and follow the guide to add your Gemini API key and run the application.

The Google AI JavaScript SDK enables you to build your generative AI integration with the Google AI Gemini API.

When calling the Gemini API directly from your mobile or web app, the Google AI JavaScript SDK is only for prototyping. There are additional security considerations for using the Gemini API key in your web client applications since you're risking exposing this API key to malicious actors if it's embedded or retrieved by your client application. So, for use cases beyond prototyping (especially production and enterprise-scale apps), migrate to Vertex AI in Firebase to call the Gemini API directly from your client app. Alternatively, you can access the Gemini models server-side using either the Google AI JavaScript SDK or through Vertex AI.

To get started with the Google AI JavaScript SDK, set up a project in Google AI Studio, which includes obtaining an API key for the Gemini API. Next, add the required dependency for the SDK to your build configuration or import it directly using @google/generative-ai. Then, you can initialize the library with your API key and make your first API call.

Explore more advanced use cases for the Google AI JavaScript SDK with the sample app on GitHub.

This example app demonstrates three key use cases in more detail: generating text, photo reasoning (using multimodal inputs), and multi-turn conversations (chat). It also shows how to use content streaming to improve response time by displaying partial results.

Follow the steps in the README to get started, which includes configuring your Gemini API key and providing it to the HTTP server included in this sample app.

Multimodal prompts combine different types of media together, such as text, images, and audio. For example, you could create prompts that identify objects in an image, extract text from a photo, or reference a picture.

To get started, read this guide about file prompting strategies and multimodal concepts, which includes best practices for designing multimodal prompts.

Next, explore the multimodal capabilities of the Gemini models in Google AI Studio by uploading or selecting a file as part of your prompt.

Learn how to use multimodal inputs using the Google AI JavaScript SDK, find image requirements for prompts for prompts, and explore the multimodal image reasoning demo in the sample app .

For further reading, see the solution Leveraging the Gemini Pro Vision model for image understanding, multimodal prompts and accessibility.

Using the Google AI JavaScript SDK to call the Gemini API directly from a web client is only for prototyping and experimentation. When you start to seriously develop your app beyong prototyping (especially as you prepare for production), transition to use Vertex AI in Firebase and its SDK for Web.

For calling the Gemini API directly from your web app, we strongly recommend using the Vertex AI in Firebase client SDK for Web. This SDK offers enhanced security features for web apps, including Firebase App Check to help protect your app from unauthorized client access. When you use this SDK, you can include large media files in your requests by using Cloud Storage for Firebase. Vertex AI in Firebase also integrates with other products in Google's Firebase developer platform (like Cloud Firestore and Firebase Remote Config), while also giving you streamlined access to the tools, workflows, and scale offered through Google Cloud. Among other differences , Vertex AI also supports increased request quotas and enterprise features.

Follow this guide to migrate to the Vertex AI in Firebase client SDK by updating your package dependencies, imports, and changing how the AI model is initialized.