API Keys, OAuth, and Bearer Tokens: Authentication Basics
Understand how API keys, OAuth, and bearer tokens differ, then plan credentials, permissions, rotation, and error handling for a dependable integration.
Read the field noteFOLLOW A TOPIC
Authentication
Authentication establishes the identity or credential associated with a request. The application must also respect authorization: the actions and data that the resulting identity is permitted to access.
Use the field notes below to connect authentication with the decisions in your own integration. Begin with a concrete task and the questions you need to answer; note the assumptions that still require confirmation in the provider’s documentation. Each guide provides a distinct explanation, practical examples, and an official source for further reading.
Field notes about Authentication
Keep the wider workflow in view: explore the API directory, compare your options with the evaluation guide, or follow the developer workflow to move from a documented capability to a useful first request.