API Key

An API key is a unique string that identifies and authenticates a request to an API — the simplest way to gate access to a service without a full OAuth flow.

What is an API key?

An API key is a secret token — usually a long random string — that a client sends with every API request to prove who it is. The server checks the key against a list of known accounts and decides whether to allow the request, what rate limit to enforce, and which scopes are permitted.

Why it matters

Simpler than OAuth for server-to-server integrations
Lets you revoke a single integration's access without rotating user passwords
Per-key rate limits and audit logs make it possible to debug "who hit the API at 3 a.m."

Best practices in 2026

Never commit keys to git. Use a secret manager (Vercel/AWS/Doppler) or environment variables
Scope keys narrowly — read-only key for dashboards, write key only for the system that needs it
Rotate on a schedule and immediately if a key leaks
Watch for prefixed keys in CI logs — most platforms now scan public repos and auto-revoke leaked keys, but don't rely on that

How TexAu helps

Generate per-workspace API keys with scoped permissions to drive workflows from your own backend or AI agents. Keys are revocable from the dashboard and every call is logged for audit.