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python requests api key

Narkw Brahma

Narkw Brahma

• 1 min read

Python Requests API Key

When using an API, it is common practice to authenticate with an API key in order to access protected resources. In Python, the requests library is a popular choice for making HTTP requests to APIs. In this article, we will discuss how to include an API key in a requests call.

Method 1: Query Parameters

One common way to include an API key in a requests call is by adding it as a query parameter in the URL. For example:


import requests

url = "https://api.example.com/data"
params = {"api_key": "YOUR_API_KEY"}

response = requests.get(url, params=params)

In this example, we specify the API key as a value for the "api_key" key in the params dictionary. When we make the request with requests.get(), the params dictionary is automatically encoded as query parameters in the URL: "https://api.example.com/data?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY".

Method 2: Headers

Another way to include an API key in a requests call is by adding it as a header. For example:


import requests

url = "https://api.example.com/data"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

In this example, we specify the API key as the value for the "Authorization" key in the headers dictionary. The API expects the API key to be passed in this way, using the "Bearer" authentication scheme.

Method 3: Environment Variables

A third way to include an API key in a requests call is by storing it as an environment variable and accessing it in your Python code. For example, you might set an environment variable called API_KEY with the following command:

$ export API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

Then, in your Python code, you can access this environment variable using the os.environ dictionary:


import os
import requests

url = "https://api.example.com/data"
headers = {"Authorization": "Bearer " + os.environ["API_KEY"]}

response = requests.get(url, headers=headers)

In this example, we concatenate the value of the API_KEY environment variable with the string "Bearer ", which is the authentication scheme expected by the API. This way, we can keep the API key separate from our code and avoid exposing it accidentally.

Conclusion

In summary, there are several ways to include an API key in a requests call in Python. You can use query parameters, headers, or environment variables, depending on the requirements of the API and your own preferences. By following these best practices, you can keep your API keys secure and avoid exposing them accidentally.

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