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

# Errors and empty results

> Handle authentication, contract errors, source limitations, and valid empty responses.

## Authentication errors

`401 Unauthorized` from Context usually means the API key is missing, invalid, or not sent as `Authorization: Bearer sk_live_...`.

## Contract errors

Meridian rejects invalid requests explicitly, including:

* Missing both `products` and `coins` for futures or spot.
* Empty `columns`.
* Unknown columns.
* Unsupported exchanges for the selected surface.
* An end timestamp that is not after the beginning.
* Invalid custom-bar types, thresholds, cursors, or limits.

Correct the arguments rather than retrying the same invalid request.

## Valid empty results

An exact custom-bar query can return `result_status="no_results"` with `query_complete=true`. This is successful completion, not an infrastructure error.

## Source limitations

A source-limited warning means Meridian has identified a real venue or source limitation. Keep the value null and retain the warning. Do not fabricate zeroes or silently substitute another venue.

## Timeouts and long jobs

Context may return a `jobId` for broad work. Use the matching poll method. A timeout should not cause the caller to start duplicate paid jobs without checking the existing job state.