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

# Connect Your Data

> Prepare your catalog, contexts, and events for NeuronSearchLab.

NeuronSearchLab works best when it understands the structure and behavior of your content. Use this guide to connect the three core data feeds that power recommendations.

## Prepare your catalog

Your catalog describes every item that may be recommended. Each record should include a stable identifier and useful metadata so the platform can learn how to rank items.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Gather item attributes">
    Gather key attributes such as title, description, price, category, tags, and thumbnail URLs.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map fields to the API">
    Map your data fields to the attributes accepted by the [`POST /v1/items` endpoint](/api-reference/endpoint/submit-items).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose an ingestion path">
    Use the [console Items page](https://console.neuronsearchlab.com/explore) for small batches or the API for automated pipelines.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  The more descriptive your metadata, the easier it is to tune filters, boosts, and personalization rules later.
</Info>

## Define contexts

Contexts capture where recommendations appear in your product experience—home feed, detail page, email digest, and more. Provide enough information to personalize each surface.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create contexts by surface">
    Create a context for each surface and record the numeric console ID, such as `101`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure retrieval behavior">
    Configure the model family and pre-query filters inside the console under **Contexts**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Reference context IDs">
    Reference that context ID in recommendation requests to ensure consistent behavior.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Learn more about advanced configuration in the [Contexts guide](/contexts).

## Stream real-time events

Engagement events help the service understand what resonates with your users.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Send engagement events">
    Send impressions, clicks, conversions, and other behavioral events using the [`POST /v1/events` endpoint](/api-reference/endpoint/submit-events).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Include event context">
    Include user identifiers, item identifiers, context IDs, and timestamps in each payload.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Validate delivery">
    Validate event delivery with the live stream viewer in the console.
  </Step>
</Steps>

When your catalog, contexts, and events stay in sync, NeuronSearchLab can adapt to changing inventory and user behavior almost immediately.