API key authentication is a method of authenticating and securing access to an application programming interface (API). It involves the use of an API key, which is a unique identifier that grants access to specific API resources and operations.

The purpose of API key authentication is to control and monitor access to an API by assigning and managing unique keys for individual users or applications.

API keys serve as a form of credential, allowing the API provider to track and control API usage, enforce rate limits, and monitor and identify unauthorized access attempts.

API key authentication is typically used in scenarios where multiple users or applications need to access an API.

It enables the API provider to identify and track the usage of different clients, which can be beneficial for managing access levels, implementing usage quotas, and identifying potential abuse or security breaches.

API key authentication can be used in a variety of contexts, including web and mobile applications, microservices, and third-party integrations.

It is commonly employed by API providers to ensure secure and controlled access to their services. By requiring API keys, providers can track usage, enforce restrictions, and have the flexibility to revoke access for specific keys if necessary.

First of all, we have to generate API keys. I am going to use a third third-party package 

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title: API Keys Authentication
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### What is an API Key Authentication

API key authentication is a method of authenticating and securing access to an application programming interface (API). It involves the use of an API key, which is a unique identifier that grants access to specific API resources and operations.

The purpose of API key authentication is to control and monitor access to an API by assigning and managing unique keys for individual users or applications.

API keys serve as a form of credential, allowing the API provider to track and control API usage, enforce rate limits, and monitor and identify unauthorized access attempts.

### When do you need API Keys

-   You want to control the number of calls made to your API.
-   You want to identify usage patterns in your API's traffic

API key authentication is typically used in scenarios where multiple users or applications need to access an API.

It enables the API provider to identify and track the usage of different clients, which can be beneficial for managing access levels, implementing usage quotas, and identifying potential abuse or security breaches.

### Where can we use API Keys

API key authentication can be used in a variety of contexts, including web and mobile applications, microservices, and third-party integrations.

It is commonly employed by API providers to ensure secure and controlled access to their services. By requiring API keys, providers can track usage, enforce restrictions, and have the flexibility to revoke access for specific keys if necessary.

### Complete Flow of API Key Authentication

1.  The client initiates a request to access an API resource or perform an operation.
2.  The client includes the API key as part of the request. This can be done in various ways, such as including the key in the request header, query parameters, or as part of the request body.
3.  The API server receives the request and extracts the API key.
4.  The API server verifies the API key's validity and authenticity. This verification process may involve checking against a database or performing cryptographic operations.
5.  If the API key is valid, the server grants access to the requested resources or operations based on the permissions associated with that key. If the key is invalid or expired, the server denies access and returns an appropriate error response.
6.  The API server processes the client's request and returns the requested data or performs the requested operation.
7.  The client receives the response from the API server and can continue interacting with the API if the authentication was successful.

### Steps

1.  Step 1: Generate API Keys
2.  Step 2: Create and Store API key
3.  Step 3: Create an API Key strategy
4.  Step 4: Register API key strategy in Auth Module
5.  Step 5: Validate the User by API key
6.  Step 6: Apply API key Authentication on protected Route

Haider Malik

API Keys Authentication

In this lesson you will learn how to implement API key authentication.

When he wants to access authenticated route or protected route, he has to

When you need to control the number of calls made to your API, you can check

If you want to identify the usage patterns in your API traffic, you can do with

API key authentication is typically used in scenarios where multiple users or

You can read this text, you can read the complete flow.

We can create and store API key for each user.

Strategy service, just like we did for the JWT strategy.

And we have to register API key strategy in auth model.

And the step number five, validate the user by API key and apply API key

I have to use external package, which is UUID to generate API key.

And we will have API key column in the user entity.

And then when we have to create a new user, what you have to do, you go to set

key, which is use UUID by calling this method, it will generate a unique key.

When you send the, when you create a new account, it should give you this API

And next step, you have to create API key strategy.

When you provide the API key, it is going to call this method, the validate

And inside the validate, you have to call validate user by API key.

If user is validated, this is how you will provide the API key authorization

You're going to use external package, passport HTTP barrier to apply the

Finally, you have to register as a provider API key strategy.

This is our method to validate the user on the paste on API key.

If user validated with the help of API key, this is our endpoint.

Here I can say I want to access the profile on the base on API key, or as you

in the auth controller, use guard, auth guard, you have to provide the barrier.

It means I want to apply API key validation or API key authentication on the

And I don't want to send the user password back in the response.

And you can send the message authenticated with API key.

This is how you will provide the API key when you make the authenticated

I want you to implement this complete flow.

You will get the error because we have two to three records in user's table,

You did not set the constraint API key should be null.

If user has signed up, we can have the API key.

Or if you set the null level to true, you can have a separate function to

It depends on your use case, your company or your business logic.

I'm expecting the null value error from the type or m.

You can see I got the relation user contains null value, which is API key.

You can set API key value manually, but I don't have API key column.

We didn't use the migration, but I found the hack to use to resolve this issue.

It will take some time to create all the tables.

We have this database, spotify column two.

Now we need to add the API key when you create a new account.

I can do it inside the user service or auth service.

I did not create a new user, so I'm going to do it here.

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