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

# Authentication

> Example overview page before API endpoints

Access to our API is secured with API keys to ensure data privacy and limit access to authorized users only. To make a request to our API, you must include a valid API key.

## Obtaining Your API Key

You can obtain your API key from the dashboard on our website. Ensure you are logged in to your account, and navigate to the dashboard section to find your API key.

## Including Your API Key in Requests

Each request to the API must include your API key in the HTTP request headers. Use the `x-api-key` header to include your API key as follows:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X POST "https://www.usepathway.dev/api/routing" -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE" -d '{...}'
```

Ensure your API key is kept secure and not exposed in publicly accessible areas such as GitHub, client-side code, etc.