# Get an API Key

## Create an account

1. Open [Get Started](https://clodo.ai/get-started) and choose **API pay as you go**.
2. Complete signup and checkout, then open the [API Console](https://clodo.ai/api-console).
3. Check your balance in **Credits** before making a paid request. See [Credits & Pricing](https://docs.clodo.ai/guides/credits-and-pricing) for endpoint costs.

## Get your API key

1. Open [API Console → API Keys](https://clodo.ai/api-console?tab=keys).
2. Click **Mint new key** and complete the key creation form.
3. Copy the raw key immediately. Allow up to 60 seconds before first use.

> **Your API key is shown only once.** Store it in a secret manager or server environment variable. Keep it out of browser code, public repositories, and shared screenshots. If it is lost or leaked, revoke it in the console and create a new key.

## Authenticate your requests

Pass the raw key in the `x-api-key` header. Do not add a `Bearer` prefix or place the key in the URL.

```http
x-api-key: ck_live_<your-secret>
```

The API base URL is `https://api-public.clodo.ai/api/public/v1/`. Include the trailing slash on endpoint paths.

## Make your first API call

Follow the [Quickstart](https://docs.clodo.ai/api-quick-start) for a complete request, or choose an endpoint in the API Reference.

For People Search, Deep Search, and Phone Enrichment, create a [webhook signing secret](https://docs.clodo.ai/guides/webhook-secrets) before making your first call. These endpoints require a public HTTPS webhook URL, even when you also use polling.