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API key
open-in-new
<p>An application programming interface (API) key is a secret unique identifier used to <a href="/facts/Authentication/64y4S69b">authenticate</a> and <a href="/facts/Authorization/FYFAkCH2">authorize</a> a user, developer, or calling program to an <a href="/facts/Application_programming_interface/GMlN4vUr">API</a>. </p><p><a href="/facts/Cloud_computing/guhg0FGV">Cloud computing</a> providers such as <a href="/facts/Google_Cloud_Platform/lPTNk7l6">Google Cloud Platform</a> and <a href="/facts/Amazon_Web_Services/UFVN2796">Amazon Web Services</a> recommend that API keys only be used to authenticate projects, rather than human users. </p>