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

# Authentication

## Authenticating Your Requests

All requests to the Venturu API must be authenticated using a bearer token. This ensures that only authorized applications can access the API.

### API Key Format

Your API key is a secret token that you will receive during the [onboarding process](../introduction/onboarding).

You must include your key in the `Authorization` header with every API request. The value must be prefixed with `Bearer `.

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash title="Header Format" theme={null}
  Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
  ```
</CodeGroup>

### Handling Errors

If your API key is missing, malformed, or invalid, the API will return a `401 Unauthorized` status code.

```json title="Response: 401 Unauthorized" theme={null}
{
  "status": "error",
  "error": "Unauthorized"
}
```

<Tip>
  If you receive this error, double-check that you have correctly copied your API key and included the `Bearer ` prefix.
</Tip>

Now that you understand authentication, let's [make your first API call](./making-your-first-call).