Stemfard response levels: lite, standard, and detailed

The api_level parameter controls how much information Stemfard includes in each response. Choosing the right level lets you balance payload size against the richness of data your application needs. Lite keeps responses minimal for fast lookups, standard adds step-by-step solutions for interactive tutoring, and detailed delivers the full educational context for deep integrations.

Comparing the three levels

lite
standard
detailed

The lite level returns the essential fields needed to display a computed answer: metadata, taxonomy, and result. It is the lightest response and the fastest to parse.

example lite response

{
  "metadata": {
    "result_name": "sum",
    "operation": "add"
  },
  "taxonomy": {
    "topic": "Linear Algebra",
    "subtopic": "Matrix Arithmetic"
  },
  "result": {
    "sum": [[6, 8], [10, 12]]
  }
}

The standard level extends lite with a steps array so you can walk users through the solution. Use this when your application needs to display worked solutions alongside the answer.

example standard response

{
  "metadata": {
    "result_name": "sum",
    "operation": "add"
  },
  "taxonomy": {
    "topic": "Linear Algebra",
    "subtopic": "Matrix Arithmetic"
  },
  "result": {
    "sum": [[6, 8], [10, 12]]
  },
  "steps": [
    {
      "step": 1,
      "description": "Add corresponding elements of matrices A and B",
      "expression": "sum[i][j] = A[i][j] + B[i][j]"
    },
    {
      "step": 2,
      "description": "Compute each element of the result matrix",
      "expression": "sum = [[1+5, 2+6], [3+7, 4+8]] = [[6, 8], [10, 12]]"
    }
  ]
}

The detailed level returns every available field: metadata, taxonomy, problem, request_normalized, intermediate, result, related, learning_pathways, syntax, steps, and properties. Use this when you need the full educational picture.

example detailed response (abbreviated)

{
  "metadata": {
    "result_name": "sum",
    "operation": "add"
  },
  "taxonomy": {
    "topic": "Linear Algebra",
    "subtopic": "Matrix Arithmetic"
  },
  "problem": {
    "statement": "Find the sum of matrices A and B"
  },
  "request_normalized": {
    "a": [[1, 2], [3, 4]],
    "b": [[5, 6], [7, 8]],
    "operation": "add"
  },
  "result": {
    "sum": [[6, 8], [10, 12]]
  },
  "intermediate": {
    "steps_count": 2
  },
  "steps": [
    {
      "step": 1,
      "description": "Add corresponding elements of matrices A and B",
      "expression": "sum[i][j] = A[i][j] + B[i][j]"
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    { "label": "Matrix subtraction", "href": "/api/v1/mathematics/linear-algebra/matrix-operations/matrix-arithmetic/subtract" }
  ],
  "learning_pathways": [
    { "label": "Matrix multiplication", "href": "/api/v1/mathematics/linear-algebra/matrix-operations/matrix-arithmetic/matmul" }
  ],
  "syntax": {
    "hint": "POST /api/v1/mathematics/linear-algebra/matrix-operations/matrix-arithmetic/add"
  },
  "properties": {
    "dimensions": [2, 2],
    "is_square": true
  }
}

When to use each level

Level	Best for
`lite`	Answer retrieval widgets, automated grading, or any scenario where you only need the computed result
`standard`	Interactive tutoring apps, homework helpers, or any UI that shows step-by-step worked solutions
`detailed`	Full educational platforms, adaptive learning systems, or integrations that surface related topics and learning pathways

Switching between levels

Pass api_level in the request body to select the level you want. The default is "detailed" if you omit the parameter.

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.stemfard.com/api/v1/mathematics/linear-algebra/matrix-operations/matrix-arithmetic/add \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "a": [[1, 2], [3, 4]],
    "b": [[5, 6], [7, 8]],
    "api_level": "lite"
  }'

Fields like related, learning_pathways, and request_normalized are only present in detailed responses and only when their corresponding boolean parameters (related, learning_pathways, request_params) are set to true.

Documentation Index

​Comparing the three levels

​When to use each level

​Switching between levels

Comparing the three levels

When to use each level

Switching between levels