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

# Representation and delivery

> Direct values, files and asynchronous work share one data contract.

Representation is how values are encoded. Delivery is how and when a client receives them. JSON and CSV can both be returned directly in an HTTP response; neither requires a stored file or download workflow.

| Use case | Delivery | Current availability |
| - | - | - |
| Bounded published climate query | `200` with inline JSON `{manifest, data}` | Available |
| The same values as CSV | `200` with inline CSV and provenance headers | Available |
| Agent query through MCP | Structured JSON values in the tool result | Available |
| Native raster | Inline JSON tile/cell response | Available |
| Tabular study evidence | Paginated inline JSON | Available |
| Large or uncached query | Durable asynchronous request, then a result response or artifact | Planned |
| GeoTIFF, NetCDF, Parquet | Additional representations with their own validated adapters | Planned |

The default query result is inline JSON. There is no `Content-Disposition: attachment` header. A client can save the body if it wants a file. The same query with `format: 'csv'` changes only the representation; source selection, cells and missingness rules remain identical.

For future asynchronous work, the API will return `202` and a request ID while acquisition or larger processing runs. Status, events and results will use that ID. This workflow will not implicitly convert an unsupported direct query into a paid job. The client must accept an explicit quote and enforce its spending limit.

Streaming and alternate representations will be advertised through capabilities only when implemented. Current pagination uses a stable cursor and an immutable dataset version. Clients should follow `nextCursor` rather than constructing offsets or assuming that one page is complete.


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