access-and-auth.mdx

title	Access & Authentication
description	Learn how to get your API key and authenticate with the Membit API.
icon	key

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

First, head over to [membit.ai](https://membit.ai) and sign in using your GitHub or Google account.

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. To authenticate your requests, you'll need to include your API key in the `Authorization` header of your requests, prefixed with `Bearer `.

Keep your API key secure and do not share it publicly.