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

# Authentication

> How API keys work in JustRouting — creating keys, sending them, and understanding authentication errors.

# Authentication

Every JustRouting API request requires an API key, sent as an HTTP Bearer header:

```bash theme={null}
Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_KEY>
```

## Creating and managing keys

1. Click **Create API Key** in the [Dashboard](https://justrouting.tech/dashboard)
2. The key is shown in full only once — save it immediately
3. You can create multiple keys and **Revoke** a compromised key at any time

```bash theme={null}
# Store it in an environment variable, never in your code repository
export JUSTROUTING_API_KEY="jr_live_..."
```

## What authentication failures look like

Missing `Authorization` header:

```json theme={null}
{ "error": "missing Authorization header" }
```

Invalid or revoked key:

```json theme={null}
{ "error": "invalid or revoked API key" }
```

Both return HTTP `401`. Fixes: check the header spelling (`Authorization: Bearer ...` — there is a space after `Bearer`) and make sure the key has not been revoked.

<Warning>
  **Never put your API key in public browser-side code.** Anyone who obtains the key can spend your quota in your name. Browser apps should proxy requests through your own backend, or contact [hello@justrouting.tech](mailto:hello@justrouting.tech) to discuss direct-from-browser options.
</Warning>

## Example requests

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash curl theme={null}
  curl "https://api.justrouting.tech/route/v1/driving/103.708362,1.357371;103.984748,1.352212" \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer $JUSTROUTING_API_KEY"
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import justrouting

  client = justrouting.Client("YOUR_API_KEY")  # sent automatically on every request
  ```

  ```ts JavaScript theme={null}
  const client = new Client(process.env.JUSTROUTING_API_KEY);
  ```

  ```go Go theme={null}
  client := justrouting.NewClient("YOUR_API_KEY")
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Related

* [Rate Limits](/rate-limits) — quotas and 429 behavior
* [Errors](/errors) — the complete error code reference