API Keys Introduction

API Keys are analogous to a password you would use to access exclusive functions or features on a web application. In this case, however, the interaction is between two programs. One program tries to access the resources of another and uses an API key to do so.

A real-world example of the use of APIs is in online shopping. When you pay for an item on checkout, you do not need to open your payment provider's website to complete the payment. You only need to provide your credentials and payment details on the checkout page of the e-commerce site. The site then uses an API to communicate with the payment provider's database to verify and finish the transaction.

Please refer to the following articles for more details on this topic: