# API Overview & Authentication

#### What is an API Key?

An API key is a unique identifier that grants you access to the AiKYNETIX API. It acts as a secure token that you must include in every API request to authenticate and authorize your access.

#### How to Use Your API Key

* **Include in Request Headers:**\
  For every API call, add your API key to the `Authorization` header in the following format:

  ```
  Authorization: API-KEY <your_api_key>
  ```
* **Example Using cURL:**

  ```bash
  curl -X GET https://api.aikynetix.com/v1/your-endpoint \
    -H "Authorization: API-KEY YOUR_API_KEY"
  ```
* **Secure Your Key:**\
  Never share your API key publicly. If your key is compromised, regenerate it immediately from your dashboard.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.aikynetix.app/api-documentation/api-key-management/api-overview-and-authentication.md?ask=<question>
```

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The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
