---
title: "Read the summary of a thread"
description: "The short AI summary the reading pane shows above a thread."
url: "https://nextmail.sh/docs/api/threads/summary"
area: "API"
category: "Mailbox"
---

# Read the summary of a thread

The short AI summary the reading pane shows above a thread.

`GET /threads/{id}/summary`

## GET /threads/{id}/summary

The short AI summary the reading pane shows above a thread.

## Example

Needs `threads:read`. `state` is `ready` with the text in `summary`, `pending` while one is being written, `failed` when the last try did not work, so ask again to try once more, or `none` when there is nothing to summarise, such as a thread holding a message that arrived encrypted.

**curl**

```
curl "$OE/threads/thr_7c1e4a90/summary" -H "$AUTH"
```

**Response**

```
{
  "object": "thread_summary",
  "threadId": "thr_7c1e4a90",
  "state": "ready",
  "summary": "Ada confirms the contract is signed and asks for the invoice by Friday."
}
```

> A summary is written the first time it is asked for and then kept, and the first request after a newer message arrives writes it again, so reading one costs nothing. Summaries spend no AI actions.

> A `pending` answer starts the writing, so ask again a few seconds later.

## Reference

- [`GET /threads/{id}/summary`](https://nextmail.sh/docs/api/reference/threads#get-threads-id-summary): full reference