# Introduction

> Ask for a chart or a figure in plain language. Get it back checked, or get a plain no.

Forma is an API and an MCP server that turns a request in plain language into a
chart or a figure you can use directly — Vega-Lite, Plotly, ECharts, Chart.js or
gnuplot for a chart; TikZ, PicTeX or MetaPost for a figure. Forma checks every artifact against a versioned set of rules before it reaches you.
So instead of checking it yourself, you get an artifact that passed, with the
version of the rules it passed — or `invalid`, with the reason. The rules
themselves are not published.

It checks form, not meaning: a valid chart of the wrong column is still valid.
You ask an **oracle** — `chart`, `vector-graphics` or `coverage-policy` — see [Oracles](https://docs.formalogic.io/oracles).

The quickest way to try it is from the assistant you already use:

Connect an assistant: add the remote MCP server https://mcp.formalogic.io/mcp (no API key; you sign in with your Forma account). Or paste this into any agent:

```
Connect to Forma, a remote MCP server at https://mcp.formalogic.io/mcp. Add it as a remote HTTP MCP server named "forma" with no API key: it uses OAuth, so I will sign in with my Forma account in the browser when you connect. If you need the exact steps for this client, read https://docs.formalogic.io/connect. Once connected, call forma_status and tell me which account you are connected as, then call list_oracles to show what you can ask.
```

Calling it from code instead? Start with the [Quickstart](https://docs.formalogic.io/quickstart).

## What comes back

Every call returns a verdict — `valid`, `invalid` or `error`. A `valid` one
carries a **citation**, `verified_by`, identifying the version of the rules it passed. Below are real
answers exactly as returned, each picture beside the source code it was drawn
from. What each verdict means is on [Verdicts](https://docs.formalogic.io/verdicts).


## Where next

- [Quickstart](https://docs.formalogic.io/quickstart): Your assistant in a minute, or a key and one call from code.
- [How Forma works](https://docs.formalogic.io/how-oracles-work): What a verdict promises, and what it does not.
- [Every endpoint](https://docs.formalogic.io/authentication): Keys, errors, limits and the full HTTP API.