> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.defdex.io/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.defdex.io/_mcp/server.

# Authentication

Create and manage keys at [API keys](https://app.defdex.io/developer/keys).
Key management requires a signed-in account with a verified email. Each key's full value
is shown once; DefDex stores its hash. Use a separate named key for each integration.

## Authenticate requests

REST and MCP use an `Authorization` header:

```text
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_PRIVATE_KEY
```

The base URL is `https://app.defdex.io/api/v1`. The SDKs and CLI read `DEFDEX_API_KEY`
from your environment. Keep keys in a secret manager or private environment, not in query
strings, source control, frontend bundles or logs.

## Choose scopes

| Scope                  | Access                                            |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `data:read`            | Search, entities, awards, jobs, credits and usage |
| `corrections:submit`   | Submit a proposed correction for human review     |
| `corrections:read-own` | List and read your account's correction proposals |

Keys default to `data:read`. No key permits direct edits to published data. Account
identity comes from the key. An account can have up to 10 active keys. To rotate, create
a replacement, update and verify the integration, then revoke the old key.

## Rate limit

All keys on one account share **60 requests per minute**. Going over returns `429` with a
`Retry-After` header. Wait that long and retry. Using more keys does not raise the limit.
Calls are also metered in credits; see [Credits and limits](/credits-and-limits).

## Usage

Open [API usage](https://app.defdex.io/developer/usage) or call `GET /api/v1/usage`. It
returns 30 days of requests grouped by day, endpoint and status. It is free. Admitted
responses include `X-Request-Id` for support.