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

# Authentication

> How to generate and use your API credentials in Hub Message

export const frontendUrl = 'https://app.hubmessage.io';

export const projectName = 'Hub Message';

## API Credentials

{projectName} uses a key pair: **Public Key** and **Secret Key**. Both are generated in the **Security** menu of the dashboard: [Security](\{frontendUrl}/app/security).

***

## Public Key

The Public Key is used by the channel connection SDK ([`@hubmessage/connect`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@hubmessage/connect)). With it, you can [connect channels](/en/channels/connect-channel) directly within your system, without needing to access the dashboard.

<Note>
  The Public Key can be exposed in your application's frontend, as it has limited permissions for channel connection only.
</Note>

Example usage:

```javascript theme={null}
import HubMessage from '@hubmessage/connect';

const client = HubMessage.newClient({
  publicKey: 'YOUR_PUBLIC_KEY'
});
```

***

## Secret Key

The Secret Key is used for authentication in all {projectName} APIs. It must be sent in the `Authorization` header as a Bearer token in every request.

<Warning>
  The Secret Key must **never** be exposed in the frontend. Use it only in your application's backend.
</Warning>

Example usage:

```bash theme={null}
curl -X GET https://api.hubmessage.io/whatsapp/businesses \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SECRET_KEY"
```

***

## Summary

| Key            | Usage                                                                                                                                 | Where to use        | Can expose in frontend? |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------- |
| **Public Key** | [Channel connection SDK](/en/channels/connect-channel)                                                                                | Frontend or backend | Yes                     |
| **Secret Key** | All API calls ([channels](/en/channels/introduction), [templates](/en/templates/introduction), [messages](/en/messages/introduction)) | Backend only        | No                      |

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Create a channel" icon="plug" href="/en/channels/create-channel">
    Create your first channel to start sending messages.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Connect channel via SDK" icon="code" href="/en/channels/connect-channel">
    Integrate the connection flow into your system.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>