> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://developerdocs.instructure.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://developerdocs.instructure.com/services/canvas/basics/file.pagination.md).

# Pagination

Requests that return multiple items will be paginated to 10 items by default. You can set a custom per-page amount with the `?per_page` parameter. There is an unspecified limit to how big you can set `per_page` to, so be sure to always check for the `Link` header.

To retrieve additional pages, the returned `Link` headers should be used. These links should be treated as opaque. They will be absolute urls that include all parameters necessary to retrieve the desired current, next, previous, first, or last page. The one exception is that if an access\_token parameter is sent for authentication, it will not be included in the returned links, and must be re-appended.

Pagination information is provided in the [Link header](http://www.w3.org/Protocols/9707-link-header.html):

```
Link: <https://<canvas>/api/v1/courses/:id/discussion_topics.json?opaqueA>; rel="current",
      <https://<canvas>/api/v1/courses/:id/discussion_topics.json?opaqueB>; rel="next",
      <https://<canvas>/api/v1/courses/:id/discussion_topics.json?opaqueC>; rel="first",
      <https://<canvas>/api/v1/courses/:id/discussion_topics.json?opaqueD>; rel="last"
```

The possible `rel` values are:

* current - link to the current page of results.
* next - link to the next page of results.
* prev - link to the previous page of results.
* first - link to the first page of results.
* last - link to the last page of results.

These will only be included if they are relevant. For example, the first page of results will not contain a rel="prev" link. rel="last" may also be excluded if the total count is too expensive to compute on each request.

**NOTE**: Because HTTP header names are [case-insensitive](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc9110#section-5.1-3), please be sure you are not parsing the `Link` header in a case-sensitive way. The capitalization of the header name is not guaranteed.

***

This documentation is generated directly from the Canvas LMS source code, available [on Github](https://github.com/instructure/canvas-lms).


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://developerdocs.instructure.com/services/canvas/basics/file.pagination.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.