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

# Authentication

> Learn how to obtain and use authentication credentials for the Uplift API.

All API endpoints are secured with API key authentication to ensure data privacy and secure access. To authenticate API requests, you need a valid API key, which acts as your access credential to interact with the Uplift API.

> **Note:** The API key (format starting with `sk`) is the credential. You send it as a Bearer token in the `Authorization` header.

## How to Get an API Key

To obtain an API key, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to the **Uplift Platform** at [platform.uplift.ai](https://platform.uplift.ai).
2. Go to **Settings** and open **API Keys** in the Developer section.
3. Generate a new API key, used to authorize requests to Uplift's API.

Ensure you keep this API key secure—treat it like a password. It grants access to various resources and services, so it should not be shared or hard-coded in publicly accessible environments.

## Using the API Key

When making requests to any Uplift API endpoint, send your API key as a Bearer token in the `Authorization` header, like so:

```http theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
```

The API key is required for all API requests to authenticate your identity and authorize access. If it is missing or invalid, the API will return a `401` Unauthorized response.