---
title: Introduction
description: "API and SDK for human-in-the-loop workflows"
---

HumanLayer is an API and SDK that enables AI Agents to contact humans for help, feedback, and approvals. It's perfect for:

- Implementing manual approval steps for software- and human-driven workflows
- Oversight of autonomous AI agents
- Managing the transition between the two

## Getting Started

Get started with Humanlayer using Python or Typescript.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Python Quickstart" icon="python" href="/quickstart-python">
    Get started with Humanlayer using Python
  </Card>
  <Card title="Typescript Quickstart" icon="npm" href="/quickstart-typescript">
    Get started with Humanlayer using Typescript
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Core Features" icon="gear" href="core/require-approval">
    Explore the core features of HumanLayer like approvals, human-as-tool, and
    more
  </Card>
  <Card title="Contact Channels" icon="envelope" href="channels/introduction">
    Learn about the different contact channels that HumanLayer supports like
    Slack, Email, React Embeds, and more
  </Card>
  <Card title="Frameworks" icon="frameworks" href="frameworks/open-ai">
    Learn about the different frameworks that HumanLayer supports like OpenAI,
    Langchain, CrewAI, and more
  </Card>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="stars" href="api-reference/introduction">
    Dig into the details
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

# Introduction to HumanLayer

## Key Features

- **Human Approvals**: Integrate human oversight into critical AI decisions
- **Flexible Workflows**: Design custom approval workflows with multiple reviewers
- **Timeout Management**: Set appropriate timeouts for human responses
- **Integration Ready**: Easy integration with existing AI applications
- **CLI Tools**: Command-line interface for common tasks

## Why HumanLayer?

As AI systems become more prevalent, the need for human oversight and quality control becomes increasingly important. HumanLayer provides the infrastructure needed to:

- Ensure quality control in AI-generated content
- Maintain human supervision over critical AI decisions
- Create auditable approval workflows
- Integrate human expertise with AI capabilities
- Collect and export human feedback into evaluation or fine-tuning datasets

## Getting Started

Check out our quickstart guides:

- [Python Quickstart](/quickstart-python)
- [TypeScript Quickstart](/quickstart-typescript)

## Installation

```bash
pip install humanlayer
```
