API Key
A unique string that authenticates your app when it calls an API, like a password that identifies who's making the request.
What is API Key?
An API key is a unique string of characters that authenticates your application when it makes requests to an API.
Think of it like a password that identifies your app to the service you're calling. The API provider generates it, you include it in your requests (usually in headers or query parameters), and the server checks it before sending back data.
Most builders use API keys to connect their apps to services like OpenAI, Stripe, or SendGrid. The key lets the provider track your usage, enforce rate limits, and bill you correctly.
Keep your keys secret. Store them in environment variables, never commit them to GitHub, and rotate them if they leak. Most services offer different keys for development and production.
Good to Know
How Vibe Coders Use API Key
Frequently Asked Questions
Your Idea to AI Business In Days
Join Dan, Zehra and 0 others building AI businesses in days with video tutorials and 1 on 1 support.
Related Terms
A unified API that gives you access to 400+ AI models from dozens of providers through a single endpoint and API key.
A managed vector database that stores and searches embeddings for AI apps like semantic search, recommendations, and RAG systems.
A set of rules that lets different software programs talk to each other and share data or functionality.
Dynamic configuration values stored outside your code that control how your app behaves across different environments.
Cloud platform that lets you run AI models through simple API calls without managing infrastructure or GPU servers.
Join 0 others building with AI