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

# Authentication

> Every request needs your API key. Without it, you'll get a 401 Unauthenticated error.

Every request needs your API key. Without it, you'll get a
`401 UNAUTHENTICATED` error.

## Anatomy of an API key

Your key looks like this:

```text theme={null}
dd_a3f9b2c1d4e5f6g7h8i9j0
 ^   ^
 |   |-- 22 random characters (base62)
 |-- prefix tells us it's a Data Driver key
```

<Warning>
  **Keep it secret.** Don't paste it in public code, screenshots, or
  chat. If you leak it, ask us to revoke and reissue. We only show the
  raw key **once** -- at creation.
</Warning>

## How to send it

Add an `Authorization` header to every request. The value is the word
`Bearer` plus a space plus your key:

```bash theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer dd_a3f9b2c1d4e5f6g7h8i9j0
```

## What you'll see in responses

Every response includes rate-limit info so you can pace yourself:

```http theme={null}
X-RateLimit-Limit: 60      # max requests per minute
X-RateLimit-Remaining: 58  # how many you have left in this window
X-RateLimit-Reset: 1715253600  # when the counter resets (unix timestamp)
X-Request-Id: req_a3f9b2c1d4e5  # echo this back if you need support
```

If something goes wrong, the error body always includes the
`request_id` -- include it when you contact support.