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

> ## Agent Instructions
> Automate.ax automations are TypeScript programs.
> Use Bun for installation and command examples.
> Use Automate.ax for the product name and automate.ax for the package, CLI, and domain.
> Treat documented public APIs as current; do not invent transitional or deprecated names.

# Start Actor build

> Starts a build for one Apify Actor version.

`apify.startActorBuild` starts a build for one Apify Actor version.

## Example

```ts automations/apify-start-actor-build.automation.ts theme={null}
import { automation, onHttpRequest } from "automate.ax"
import { apify } from "automate.ax/apify"

export default automation("Start Actor build", () => {
  onHttpRequest({ scope: "automation" })

  apify.startActorBuild({
    actorId: "actor-id",
    versionNumber: "1.0",
    tag: "latest",
    useCache: true,
  })
})
```

## Inputs

| Field           | Type      | Required | Description                            |
| --------------- | --------- | -------- | -------------------------------------- |
| `actorId`       | `string`  | Yes      | Actor ID or `username/name` reference. |
| `versionNumber` | `string`  | Yes      | Actor version to build.                |
| `tag`           | `string`  | No       | Tag assigned to a successful build.    |
| `useCache`      | `boolean` | No       | Reuse cached Docker layers.            |
| `betaPackages`  | `boolean` | No       | Use Apify beta packages.               |

## Output

Returns the build immediately with its ID, status, build number, timestamps, options, statistics, and usage.

Starting another build creates a distinct provider job, so automatic retries are disabled after an uncertain response.