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

# What is Evidence?

> Evidence is a powerful framework for building and publishing data products using SQL, markdown, and AI.

Evidence comes in two parts: an open-source framework you can run yourself, and a hosted platform built on top of it.

## Evidence Core

**Evidence Core** is an MIT-licensed framework for building data apps from SQL and Markdown. You write reports in [Markdown](/core-concepts/markdown) with embedded [SQL](/core-concepts/markdown#sql) and [components](/core-concepts/components), query your own warehouse through [direct connectors](/direct-connectors/snowflake), and preview locally with the [CLI](/cli). It builds to a static site you can [self-host](/self-host) anywhere — Vercel, Netlify, Docker, or your own infrastructure. No account required.

## Evidence Studio

**Evidence Studio** is the hosted platform built on Evidence Core. Alongside everything in Core, it adds:

* A collaborative [editor](/editing) and [publishing](/publishing) with preview deployments
* The [Evidence Agent](/features/evidence-agent) for building reports with AI
* [Access rules](/features/access-rules) and [page-level access control](/features/page-level-access-control) for controlling who sees what
* [Scheduled reports](/features/scheduled-reports) and [embedded analytics](/features/embedded)

Studio-only pages in these docs are marked with a badge.

## Getting Started

Create your first report in minutes.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Sign Up" icon="user" href="https://login.evidence.studio/sign-up">
    Create an Evidence Studio account and start building in your browser.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Download the CLI" icon="terminal" href="/cli">
    Build locally with Evidence Core.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Learn More

Build reports to share with your team.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Add Components" icon="chart-line" href="/core-concepts/components">
    Add charts, tables and interactive components to your reports
  </Card>

  <Card title="Write SQL" icon="database" href="/core-concepts/markdown">
    Write SQL queries to power your reports
  </Card>

  <Card title="Share Reports" icon="share" href="/publishing">
    Publish your reports online to share with your team
  </Card>

  <Card title="Write Reports with AI" icon="sparkles" href="/editing">
    Build interactive reports with the help of the Evidence AI Agent
  </Card>
</CardGroup>