# Authentication - API Key

## How use your API Key in requests http

Before making any request to the integration APIs, you need to include the API Key in the request header using the `Authorization` parameter. The API Key should be encoded in base64 format.

```shell
const secretKey = 'client_id' + Buffer.from('client_id').toString('base64');
```

Here is an example of how to use your API Key in a CURL command, which demonstrates including the API Key in the header. You can also use this example for making requests via Postman.

**1. CURL**

```shell
curl --request GET \
--url https://api.sparc.solutions/pix
--header 'Accept: application/json' \
--header 'client_id: {CLIENT_ID}'
--header 'client_secret: {CLIENT_SECRET}'
```

Finally, if the API Key is not informed and/or is invalid, requests will issue a 403 error with the return:

```shell
{
    "message": "Unauthorized",
    "statusCode": 401
}
```


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