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

# Authentication

> Securely authenticate API requests using Bearer token authentication with API keys.

The Givebutter API uses **Bearer token authentication** to secure all API requests. All requests must be made over HTTPS.

## Quick Start

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

<CodeGroup>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns \
    -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
  ```

  ```javascript Node.js / JavaScript theme={null}
  const response = await fetch('https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns', {
    headers: {
      Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
    },
  });
  ```

  ```python Python theme={null}
  import requests

  headers = {'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'}
  response = requests.get('https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns', headers=headers)
  ```

  ```php PHP theme={null}
  $ch = curl_init('https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns');
  curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER, [
      'Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'
  ]);
  $response = curl_exec($ch);
  ```

  ```ruby Ruby theme={null}
  require 'net/http'

  uri = URI('https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns')
  request = Net::HTTP::Get.new(uri)
  request['Authorization'] = 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY'

  response = Net::HTTP.start(uri.hostname, uri.port, use_ssl: true) do |http|
    http.request(request)
  end
  ```

  ```go Go theme={null}
  client := &http.Client{}
  req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns", nil)
  req.Header.Add("Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY")

  resp, err := client.Do(req)
  ```

  ```java Java theme={null}
  HttpClient client = HttpClient.newHttpClient();
  HttpRequest request = HttpRequest.newBuilder()
      .uri(URI.create("https://api.givebutter.com/v1/campaigns"))
      .header("Authorization", "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY")
      .build();

  HttpResponse<String> response = client.send(request, HttpResponse.BodyHandlers.ofString());
  ```
</CodeGroup>

## Getting Your API Key

1. Go to **Settings** → **Integrations** → **API Keys** in your [Givebutter Dashboard](https://givebutter.com/dashboard)
2. Click **Create New API Key** and give it a name
3. Copy your API key immediately and store it securely

<Warning>Your API key is shown only once. Never share it or commit it to version control.</Warning>

## Authentication Errors

### 401 Unauthorized

Your API key is missing, invalid, or revoked.

```json theme={null}
{
  "message": "Unauthenticated."
}
```

**Common causes:**

* API key is missing from the request
* API key is incorrect or has typos
* API key has been revoked
* Using `Authorization: YOUR_API_KEY` instead of `Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY`

### 403 Forbidden

Your API key is valid but lacks permission for this resource.

```json theme={null}
{
  "message": "This action is unauthorized."
}
```

**Common causes:**

* API key has restricted permissions
* Trying to access another organization's data
* Resource has been archived or deleted