API Key
A unique password-like code that identifies you when your app or script sends requests to an AI model.
01 Definition
An API key is a unique string of characters used to authenticate requests to an AI service's API, so the company knows who's making the request, can track usage and billing, and can restrict access if needed.
02 Why It Matters
Treat an API key like a password — anyone with it can rack up charges or access data on your account, so never share it publicly or commit it to public code.
03 Example
A developer pastes their OpenAI API key into their app's settings so the app can call ChatGPT's model on their behalf.