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

# Access & Authentication

> Learn how to get your API key and authenticate with the Membit API.

Getting started with the Membit API is simple. Follow these steps to get your API key and make your first request.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign in to Membit">
    First, head over to [membit.ai](https://membit.ai) and sign in using your
    GitHub or Google account.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get your API key">
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/membit/X3g2jASQcla7cFkX/images/membit-pass.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=X3g2jASQcla7cFkX&q=85&s=de235756c1ddd54ac75c7920d16b7944" alt="Membit API key generation interface" width="400" data-path="images/membit-pass.png" />

    Once you're signed in, you'll be able to generate a free API key from your account
    dashboard. This key will give you access to the Membit API.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Authenticate your requests">
    To authenticate your requests, you'll need to include your API key in the
    `Authorization` header of your requests, prefixed with `Bearer `.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>Keep your API key secure and do not share it publicly.</Warning>