> For a complete index of all SignalWire documentation pages, fetch https://signalwire.com/docs/llms.txt

# start

> Start the HTTP search service.

Start the HTTP service. This method blocks until the server is shut down
(e.g., via SIGINT). The service exposes search, health check, and index
reload endpoints.

## **Parameters**

**`host`** `str` — default: 0.0.0.0

Host address to bind to.

---

**`port`** `Optional[int]`

Port to bind to. Defaults to the port set in the constructor.

---

**`ssl_cert`** `Optional[str]`

Path to an SSL certificate file for HTTPS. Overrides environment settings.

---

**`ssl_key`** `Optional[str]`

Path to an SSL key file for HTTPS. Overrides environment settings.

---

## **Returns**

`None` -- This method blocks and does not return until the server is stopped.

## **Example**

```python {7}
from signalwire.search import SearchService

service = SearchService(
    indexes={"docs": "./docs.swsearch"},
    basic_auth=("admin", "secret"),
)
service.start(port=8001)  # Blocks here, serving at http://0.0.0.0:8001/
```