API Key
A secret string that authenticates your requests to an AI provider for billing and rate limiting.
- Treat like a password: never commit, never paste in client code.
- Use env vars or secret managers (AWS, Doppler).
- Set per-key spending caps as standard practice.
When to use: For any direct API access; rotate on suspected leak.
Example: Anthropic keys start with `sk-ant-`; the console lets you set a monthly hard spending limit per key.