API Key (2024)

FAQs

API Key? ›

An application programming interface (API) key is a code used to identify and authenticate an application or user.

To find an API key, you usually need to visit the website or platform that offers the API you want to use. The process can vary depending on the specific API provider, but you typically need to sign up for an account, create a project or application, and then generate an API key within that project.

API Keys is free of charge. If you use Cloud Endpoints to manage your API, you might incur charges at high traffic volumes. For more information, see Endpoints pricing.

API keys identify an application's traffic for the API producer, in case the application developer needs to work with the API producer to debug an issue or show their application's usage. You want to control the number of calls made to your API. You want to identify usage patterns in your API's traffic.

The API key string is an encrypted string, for example, AIzaSyDaGmWKa4JsXZ-HjGw7ISLn_3namBGewQe .

Recommendations. Sharing your API keys should only be done in specific scenarios where it is necessary and where you trust the person or business that will be receiving them. When granting access, always generate a new key for each client so that you can easily revoke their access if necessary.

OAuth2 vs API keys

Here are some of the benefits of OAuth2 over the API key: Access token is tied to a specific user, not an app. User credentials are never exposed to an app, authentication is done in a single place – Authorization Server.

If a key falls into the wrong hands, it can easily be exploited. Since API keys rarely expire, a hacker can use the key indefinitely unless the key's owner regenerates or deactivates the key.

An application programming interface (API) key is a code used to identify and authenticate an application or user. API keys are available through platforms, such as a white-labeled internal marketplace. They also act as a unique identifier and provide a secret token for authentication purposes.

What is the API key password? ›

API Keys are personal authentication credentials that you can create and pass in place of a username and password when using HTTP Basic Auth to perform API calls.

There is no “free account” for API. The use of the service costs money by the amount of data used. There is only possibility of a free trial credit, which expires three months after you first created your OpenAI account. Now you'll need to purchase a credit balance in order to make calls.

Is ChatGPT API Free? The API itself is free. You will have to pay based on usage. But initially, you'll get free credit worth $18 upon subscribing to get a taste of it.

Click on the “Dashboard” option from the menu. Find the “API keys” option from the left settings bar and click on the option. Upon clicking on the “API” tab, you should be redirected to the API Keys page. This page will provide you with an overview of your existing API keys and the option to generate a new one.

Keep API keys isolated from the main code and away from the public eye by storing them in environmental variables. Always keep API keys in safe key management solutions for storage. Make sure that the keys are encrypted both in transit and at rest. Alternate your API keys regularly to minimize exposure concerns.

In general, API Keys are placed at the following places: Authorization Header, Basic Auth, Body Data, Custom Header, Query String.