> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://runcrate.ai/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Authentication

> How to authenticate with the Runcrate Models API.

export const RuncrateStyles = () => {
  if (typeof document !== 'undefined' && !document.getElementById('runcrate-overrides')) {
    const s = document.createElement('style');
    s.id = 'runcrate-overrides';
    s.textContent = `
      /* Match Runcrate's rounding scale (--radius: 0.75rem) */
      .rounded-sm { border-radius: 0.5rem !important; }   /* 8px */
      .rounded-md { border-radius: 0.625rem !important; } /* 10px */
      .rounded-lg { border-radius: 0.75rem !important; }  /* 12px */
      .rounded-l-sm { border-top-left-radius: 0.5rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.5rem !important; }
      .rounded-r-sm { border-top-right-radius: 0.5rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.5rem !important; }
      .rounded-l-md { border-top-left-radius: 0.625rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.625rem !important; }
      .rounded-r-md { border-top-right-radius: 0.625rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.625rem !important; }
      .rounded-l-lg { border-top-left-radius: 0.75rem !important; border-bottom-left-radius: 0.75rem !important; }
      .rounded-r-lg { border-top-right-radius: 0.75rem !important; border-bottom-right-radius: 0.75rem !important; }

      /* Cards: never pure white in light mode */
      .card { background-color: #fcfcfc !important; border-radius: 0.75rem !important; }
      html.dark .card { background-color: #141414 !important; }

      /* Docs hero box */
      .rc-hero { background-color: #fcfcfc; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; }
      html.dark .rc-hero { background-color: #141414; border-color: #242424; }
      html.dark .rc-hero h1 { color: #f5f5f5; }

      /* Runcrate scrollbar — thin, transparent track, hide-until-hover thumb */
      ::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 6px; height: 6px; background-color: transparent; }
      ::-webkit-scrollbar-track { background-color: transparent; }
      ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.5); border-radius: 10px; transition: opacity 0.3s ease; opacity: 0; }
      ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover { background-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.7); }
      *:hover::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb,
      *:focus::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb,
      *:active::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { opacity: 1; }
      * { scrollbar-width: thin; scrollbar-color: rgba(155, 155, 155, 0.5) transparent; }
    `;
    document.head.appendChild(s);
  }
  return null;
};

<RuncrateStyles />

All API requests require a Runcrate API key passed as a Bearer token.

## Getting Your API Key

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the Keys page">
    Navigate to **Dashboard → Keys** and click the **API Keys** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a key">
    Click **Create API Key** and give it a name.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy immediately">
    The full key is displayed **only once**. Copy it and store it securely.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your key looks like: `rc_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`

<Warning>
  The full API key cannot be viewed again after creation. If you lose it, create a new one.
</Warning>

## Using Your Key

Include the key in the `Authorization` header:

```bash theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
curl https://api.runcrate.ai/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer rc_live_YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"model": "deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V3", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hi"}]}'
```

Or with the OpenAI SDK:

```python theme={"theme":"github-dark"}
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.runcrate.ai/v1",
    api_key="rc_live_YOUR_API_KEY",
)
```

## Key Management

From the **API Keys** tab you can:

* **View keys** — See the key prefix and status (the full key is never shown again)
* **Activate/Deactivate** — Toggle a key without deleting it
* **Delete** — Permanently remove a key
* **Track usage** — See the last-used date for each key

## Auto-Provisioned Keys

When you open a model in the [Playground](/models/playground), Runcrate automatically creates a default API key for your workspace if one doesn't exist. This key is used for playground requests.

## Security Best Practices

* Store keys in environment variables, not in code
* Never commit keys to git — add `.env` to `.gitignore`
* Use separate keys for development and production
* Rotate keys periodically
* Deactivate compromised keys immediately