Create API Key

API keys are used to authenticate your requests to the 3xCoder API. You can create multiple keys for different projects, environments, or team members.

Creating a New Key

1. Log in to your 3xCoder dashboard
2. Navigate to API Keys or Token Management
3. Click Create New Key
4. Configure the key settings:
   • Name — Give the key a descriptive name (e.g., "Production", "Claude Code", "Dev Testing")
   • Quota — Set the token usage limit (optional)
   • Rate Limit — Set the maximum requests per minute (optional)
   • Model Access — Choose which models this key can access (optional)
5. Click Create
6. Copy your key immediately — The full key is only shown once. Store it in a secure location.

WARNING

Your API key will only be displayed once when created. Make sure to copy and save it immediately. If you lose your key, you will need to create a new one.

Key Format

3xCoder API keys follow a standard format:

sk-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Using Your Key

Include your API key in the Authorization header of every request:

curl https://api.3xcoder.com/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk-your-api-key-here" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "model": "gpt-4o",
    "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
  }'

Or set it as an environment variable:

Linux / macOS

export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-your-api-key-here"

Windows PowerShell

$env:OPENAI_API_KEY = "sk-your-api-key-here"

Windows CMD

set OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-api-key-here

Key Security Best Practices

• Never commit keys to version control — Use environment variables or .env files (and add .env to .gitignore)
• Use separate keys for different environments (development, staging, production)
• Rotate keys regularly — Delete old keys and create new ones periodically
• Set quotas to prevent unexpected usage spikes
• Revoke compromised keys immediately from the dashboard

Managing Existing Keys

From the dashboard, you can:

• View all your active keys (partial key shown for security)
• Edit key names, quotas, and rate limits
• Disable a key temporarily without deleting it
• Delete a key permanently
• Monitor per-key usage statistics