Authentication

All API requests to UniterRouter require authentication using an API key. This guide covers how to obtain and use your API key securely.

Obtaining an API Key

1. Sign in to the UniterRouter Dashboard
2. Navigate to your Project → API Keys
3. Click Create API Key
4. Copy the key immediately — it will only be shown once

Using Your API Key

Include your API key in the Authorization header of every request using the Bearer token format:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

Example Request

curl https://api.uniterouter.ai/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $UNITEROUTER_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gpt-4o",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
  }'

import os
from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://api.uniterouter.ai/v1",
    api_key=os.environ.get("UNITEROUTER_API_KEY"),
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4o",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)

import OpenAI from "openai";

const client = new OpenAI({
  baseURL: "https://api.uniterouter.ai/v1",
  apiKey: process.env.UNITEROUTER_API_KEY,
});

const response = await client.chat.completions.create({
  model: "gpt-4o",
  messages: [{ role: "user", content: "Hello!" }],
});

package main

import (
    "context"
    "os"
    openai "github.com/sashabaranov/go-openai"
)

func main() {
    config := openai.DefaultConfig(os.Getenv("UNITEROUTER_API_KEY"))
    config.BaseURL = "https://api.uniterouter.ai/v1"
    client := openai.NewClientWithConfig(config)

    resp, _ := client.CreateChatCompletion(
        context.Background(),
        openai.ChatCompletionRequest{
            Model: "gpt-4o",
            Messages: []openai.ChatCompletionMessage{
                {Role: "user", Content: "Hello!"},
            },
        },
    )
}

Environment Variables

We recommend storing your API key in environment variables:

# Add to your shell profile (.bashrc, .zshrc, etc.)
export UNITEROUTER_API_KEY="sk_..."

For production applications, use a secrets manager or environment configuration provided by your deployment platform.

API Key Formats

UniterRouter API keys follow this format:

Authentication Errors

If authentication fails, the API returns a 401 Unauthorized response:

{
  "error": {
    "message": "Incorrect API key provided. You can find your API key at https://uniterouter.ai/dashboard.",
    "type": "invalid_request_error",
    "code": "invalid_api_key"
  }
}

Common authentication issues:

Security Best Practices

1. Never hardcode API keys — Use environment variables or secrets managers
2. Rotate keys periodically — Create new keys and deprecate old ones
3. Use separate keys per environment — Different keys for development, staging, and production
4. Set usage limits — Configure spending limits on each API key
5. Monitor usage — Regularly review API key activity in the dashboard
6. Revoke compromised keys immediately — If a key is exposed, disable it and create a new one

Organization & Project Structure

UniterRouter uses a hierarchical structure for access management:

Organization
└── Project
    └── API Keys

• Organization: Your top-level account
• Project: A logical grouping of API keys and settings
• API Key: Credentials scoped to a specific project

Each API key inherits the permissions and settings of its parent project.

Next Steps

• Learn about API Key Management & IAM Rules
• Explore the API Reference
• Set up Error Handling