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Authentication Setup

Most AI APIs require authentication to access their services. This guide covers how to set up authentication for different providers and implement security best practices.

Common Authentication Methods

API Keys

Most providers use API keys:

  • Unique identifier for your application
  • Included in request headers
  • Can be regenerated if compromised
  • Usually free to obtain

Bearer Tokens

OAuth-style authentication:

  • More secure than simple API keys
  • Can have limited scopes
  • May expire and need refresh
  • Used by enterprise providers

Provider-Specific Setup

OpenAI

  1. Visit OpenAI Platform
  2. Create an account or sign in
  3. Go to API Keys section
  4. Click "Create new secret key"
  5. Copy and securely store the key
Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key-here

Anthropic

  1. Visit Anthropic Console
  2. Sign up for an account
  3. Navigate to API Keys
  4. Generate a new key
  5. Note the key format: x-api-key
x-api-key: your-anthropic-key-here

Google AI

  1. Go to Google AI Studio
  2. Sign in with Google account
  3. Get API key from the interface
  4. Enable necessary APIs in Google Cloud
Authorization: Bearer your-google-api-key

Security Best Practices

API Key Management

  • Never commit keys to version control
  • Use environment variables
  • Rotate keys regularly
  • Use different keys for development and production
  • Monitor key usage for anomalies

Environment Variables

Store keys securely:

# .env file
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-anthropic-key
GOOGLE_API_KEY=your-google-key

Server-Side Implementation

Keep API keys on the server:

  • Never expose keys in client-side code
  • Use proxy endpoints for client requests
  • Implement request validation
  • Add usage monitoring

Code Examples

JavaScript/Node.js

Python

Rate Limiting

Understanding Limits

  • Requests per minute (RPM)
  • Tokens per minute (TPM)
  • Daily quotas
  • Concurrent request limits

Handling Rate Limits

  • Implement exponential backoff
  • Monitor rate limit headers
  • Queue requests when necessary
  • Use multiple API keys if allowed

Error Handling

Common Authentication Errors

  • 401 Unauthorized: Invalid or missing API key
  • 403 Forbidden: Key lacks required permissions
  • 429 Too Many Requests: Rate limit exceeded
  • 402 Payment Required: Billing issue or quota exceeded

Error Response Handling

Testing Authentication

Simple Test Requests

Test your setup with minimal requests:

  • Use provider-specific test endpoints
  • Start with simple completions
  • Verify response format
  • Check billing/usage dashboards

Debugging Tips

  • Check API key format and validity
  • Verify request headers
  • Test with curl or Postman first
  • Review provider status pages
  • Check account billing status