API Key ek unique identifier hota hai jo applications ko APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) ke saath communicate karne ke liye diya jata hai. API key ka primary purpose ye ensure karna hota hai ki only authorized users ya applications API ko access kar sakein.
Key Points:
1. Authentication : API key ek simple authentication method ke roop mein kaam karta hai. Jab ek application kisi API se request karta hai, to us request ke sath API key bhi bheji jaati hai, taaki API verify kar sake ki request authorized hai.
2. Access Control : API keys ka use specific access levels define karne ke liye bhi hota hai. Example ke liye, ek API key read-only access de sakti hai, jabki doosri key read-write access de sakti hai. Isse API provider ko control milta hai ki kis user ya application ko kya access milega.
3. Rate Limiting : API keys ko use karke API provider ek specific key ke liye requests ke number ko limit kar sakte hain. Yeh practice "rate limiting" kehlati hai, jo server overload ya abuse prevent karne ke liye important hai.
4. Security : API keys ko secure rakhna important hota hai, kyunki agar koi unauthorized user ko key mil jaati hai, to woh API ko misuse kar sakta hai. Isliye, API keys ko usually source code ya logs mein expose nahi kiya jata.
5. Implementation : API keys ko request headers, URL parameters, ya body mein include karke API requests bheji jaati hain.
Example:
GET /data?apikey=your_api_key
6. Expiration and Revocation : API keys ko expire ya revoke kiya ja sakta hai, agar security reasons ya key ka misuse hone ka shak ho.
Example:
Agar tum Google Maps API use karte ho, to tumhe ek API key milegi jo tumhe Google Maps se data fetch karne mein madad karegi. Tumhe apni requests mein ye API key include karni hogi, taaki Google verify kar sake ki tumhara application authorized hai aur tumhare specified usage limits ke andar hai.
