API Key

An API key is a secret credential that identifies you when making requests to an AI provider like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. It’s how the provider knows who to bill and what access level to grant.

How to Get One

1. Create an account with a provider (e.g., platform.openai.com)
2. Navigate to API keys in your dashboard
3. Generate a new key and copy it immediately — you usually can’t see it again

Security Tips

• Never share your key publicly — treat it like a password
• Don’t commit it to code — use environment variables instead
• Set spending limits — most providers let you cap monthly usage
• Rotate keys periodically — revoke old keys and create new ones

Using API Keys in TalkFlux

TalkFlux encrypts your keys with AES-256-GCM and never stores them in plain text. You can add, remove, and rotate your keys anytime from Settings.