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

# Get an API key

> Create an API key and configure the SDK to authenticate with Superserve.

Every SDK call is authenticated with an API key. Keys are prefixed with `ss_live_` and scoped to a single team.

## 1. Create a key in the console

Go to [console.superserve.ai](https://console.superserve.ai?utm_source=docs\&utm_medium=link), open **Settings → API keys**, and click **Create key**. Copy the value - it's only shown once.

<Warning>
  Treat API keys like passwords. Never commit them to source control or paste them into client-side code.
</Warning>

## 2. Configure the SDK

By default, the SDK reads `SUPERSERVE_API_KEY` from the environment.

```bash theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
export SUPERSERVE_API_KEY=ss_live_...
```

You can also pass the key explicitly - useful in serverless environments where env vars are awkward.

<CodeGroup>
  ```typescript TypeScript theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
  import { Sandbox } from "@superserve/sdk"

  const sandbox = await Sandbox.create({
    name: "explicit-key",
    apiKey: process.env.MY_KEY,
  })
  ```

  ```python Python theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"vitesse-dark"}}
  import os
  from superserve import Sandbox

  sandbox = Sandbox.create(
      name="explicit-key",
      api_key=os.environ["MY_KEY"],
  )
  ```
</CodeGroup>