# Authentication

### Overview

All requests to YetAnotherAPI services require authentication. This document outlines the authentication process and best practices for securing your API access.

### API Key Authentication

#### Obtaining an API Key

1. Sign up for an account at YetAnotherAPI platform
2. Navigate to the API Keys section in your dashboard
3. Generate a new API key for your application

#### Using Your API Key

Include your API key in the request header for all API calls:

```
x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY
```

#### Example Request

```bash
curl --location 'https://api.yetanotherapi.com/v1/endpoint' \
--header 'x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' \
--header 'Content-Type: application/json'
```

### Security Best Practices

1. **Key Protection**
   * Never expose your API key in client-side code
   * Don't commit API keys to version control
   * Rotate keys periodically for enhanced security
2. **Environment Management**
   * Use different API keys for development and production
   * Store keys in secure environment variables
   * Implement key rotation procedures
3. **Access Control**
   * Monitor API key usage regularly
   * Revoke compromised keys immediately
   * Use the minimum required permissions for each key

### Error Responses

| Status Code | Description              | Solution                                 |
| ----------- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| 401         | Invalid API key          | Check if key is correct and active       |
| 403         | Insufficient permissions | Verify key has required access levels    |
| 429         | Rate limit exceeded      | Reduce request frequency or upgrade plan |

### Support

If you encounter authentication issues or need assistance, contact our support team through the support portal.


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

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

```
GET https://docs.yetanotherapi.com/api-documentation/authentication.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
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.