PolymarketDocumentation/docs/developers/CLOB/quickstart.md

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.polymarket.com/llms.txt Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Quickstart

Initialize the CLOB and place your first order.

Installation

```bash TypeScript theme={null} npm install @polymarket/clob-client ethers ```

pip install py-clob-client

cargo add polymarket-client-sdk

---

Quick Start

1. Setup Client

```typescript TypeScript theme={null} import { ClobClient } from "@polymarket/clob-client"; import { Wallet } from "ethers"; // v5.8.0

const HOST = "https://clob.polymarket.com"; const CHAIN_ID = 137; // Polygon mainnet const signer = new Wallet(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY);

// Create or derive user API credentials const tempClient = new ClobClient(HOST, CHAIN_ID, signer); const apiCreds = await tempClient.createOrDeriveApiKey();

// See 'Signature Types' note below const signatureType = 0;

// Initialize trading client const client = new ClobClient( HOST, CHAIN_ID, signer, apiCreds, signatureType );

```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client.client import ClobClient
import os

host = "https://clob.polymarket.com"
chain_id = 137 # Polygon mainnet
private_key = os.getenv("PRIVATE_KEY")

# Create or derive user API credentials
temp_client = ClobClient(host, key=private_key, chain_id=chain_id)
api_creds = await temp_client.create_or_derive_api_key()

# See 'Signature Types' note below
signature_type = 0

# Initialize trading client
client = ClobClient(
    host,
    key=private_key,
    chain_id=chain_id,
    creds=api_creds,
    signature_type=signature_type
)

This quick start sets your EOA as the trading account. You'll need to fund this wallet to trade and pay for gas on transactions. Gas-less transactions are only available by deploying a proxy wallet and using Polymarket's Polygon relayer infrastructure. | Wallet Type | ID | When to Use | | ------------ | --- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | EOA | `0` | Standard Ethereum wallet (MetaMask) | | Custom Proxy | `1` | Specific to Magic Link users from Polymarket only | | Gnosis Safe | `2` | Injected providers (Metamask, Rabby, embedded wallets) |

---

2. Place an Order

```typescript TypeScript theme={null} import { Side } from "@polymarket/clob-client";

// Place a limit order in one step const response = await client.createAndPostOrder({ tokenID: "YOUR_TOKEN_ID", // Get from Gamma API price: 0.65, // Price per share size: 10, // Number of shares side: Side.BUY, // or SELL });

console.log(Order placed! ID: ${response.orderID});

```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client.clob_types import OrderArgs
from py_clob_client.order_builder.constants import BUY

# Place a limit order in one step
response = await client.create_and_post_order(
    OrderArgs(
        token_id="YOUR_TOKEN_ID",  # Get from Gamma API
        price=0.65,                # Price per share
        size=10,                   # Number of shares
        side=BUY,                  # or SELL
    )
)

print(f"Order placed! ID: {response['orderID']}")

---

3. Check Your Orders

```typescript TypeScript theme={null} // View all open orders const openOrders = await client.getOpenOrders(); console.log(`You have ${openOrders.length} open orders`);

// View your trade history const trades = await client.getTrades(); console.log(You've made ${trades.length} trades);

```python Python theme={null}
# View all open orders
open_orders = await client.get_open_orders()
print(f"You have {len(open_orders)} open orders")

# View your trade history
trades = await client.get_trades()
print(f"You've made {len(trades)} trades")

---

Complete Example

```typescript TypeScript theme={null} import { ClobClient, Side } from "@polymarket/clob-client"; import { Wallet } from "ethers";

async function trade() { const HOST = "https://clob.polymarket.com"; const CHAIN_ID = 137; // Polygon mainnet const signer = new Wallet(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY);

const tempClient = new ClobClient(HOST, CHAIN_ID, signer);
const apiCreds = await tempClient.createOrDeriveApiKey();

const signatureType = 0;

const client = new ClobClient(
  HOST,
  CHAIN_ID,
  signer,
  apiCreds,
  signatureType
);

const response = await client.createAndPostOrder({
  tokenID: "YOUR_TOKEN_ID",
  price: 0.65,
  size: 10,
  side: Side.BUY,
});

console.log(`Order placed! ID: ${response.orderID}`);

}

trade();

```python Python theme={null}
from py_clob_client.client import ClobClient
from py_clob_client.clob_types import OrderArgs
from py_clob_client.order_builder.constants import BUY
import asyncio
import os

async def trade():
    host = "https://clob.polymarket.com"
    chain_id = 137 # Polygon mainnet
    private_key = os.getenv("PRIVATE_KEY")

    temp_client = ClobClient(host, key=private_key, chain_id=chain_id)
    creds = await temp_client.create_or_derive_api_key()

    signature_type=0

    client = ClobClient(
        host,
        chain_id=chain_id,
        key=private_key,
        creds=creds,
        signature_type=signature_type
    )

    response = await client.create_and_post_order(
        OrderArgs(
            token_id="YOUR_TOKEN_ID",
            price=0.65,
            size=10,
            side=BUY
        )
    )

    print(f"Order placed! ID: {response['orderID']}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(trade())

---

Troubleshooting

You forgot to call `createOrDeriveApiKey()`. Make sure you initialize the client with API credentials:

```typescript  theme={null}
const creds = await clobClient.createOrDeriveApiKey();
const client = new ClobClient(host, chainId, wallet, creds);
```

Ensure you have:

* **USDC** in your funder address for BUY orders
* **Outcome tokens** in your funder address for SELL orders

Check your balance at [polymarket.com/portfolio](https://polymarket.com/portfolio).

You need to approve the Exchange contract to spend your tokens. This is typically done through the Polymarket UI on your first trade. Or use the CTF contract's `setApprovalForAll()` method. Your funder address is the Polymarket proxy wallet where you deposit funds. Find it:

1. Go to [polymarket.com/settings](https://polymarket.com/settings)
2. Look for "Wallet Address" or "Profile Address"
3. This is your `FUNDER_ADDRESS`

---

Next Steps

Complete Next.js examples demonstrating integration of embedded wallets (Privy, Magic, Turnkey, wagmi) and the CLOB and Builder Relay clients Deep dive into L1 and L2 authentication Explore the complete client reference Use Gamma API to discover markets Get real-time order updates