Skip to main content

Authentication

Learn how to set up API keys and authenticate your applications with LiveI18n.

API Keys Overview​

LiveI18n uses API keys for authentication. Each API key is associated with your organization and provides access to the translation API.

Key Components​

Every API request requires two pieces of information:

  • API Key: Authenticates your application
  • Customer ID: Identifies your organization

Generating API Keys​

1. Access the Dashboard​

  1. Log in to your LiveI18n dashboard
  2. Navigate to "API Keys" in the sidebar
  3. Enter a discriptive name and click "Create API Key"

2. Secure Your Key​

danger

Your API key will only be displayed once. Copy it immediately and store it securely.

After generating your key:

  1. Copy the API key to your clipboard
  2. Store it in a secure location (password manager, environment variables)
  3. Never commit API keys to version control

Using API Keys​

Environment Variables​

The recommended approach is to store your credentials in a secret manager as environment variables or in .env files:

# Example .env file
REACT_APP_LIVEI18N_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
REACT_APP_LIVEI18N_CUSTOMER_ID=your_customer_id_here

React SDK Setup​

import { initializeLiveI18n } from '@livei18n/react-sdk';

// Initialize with environment variables
initializeLiveI18n({
  apiKey: process.env.REACT_APP_LIVEI18N_API_KEY,
  customerId: process.env.REACT_APP_LIVEI18N_CUSTOMER_ID
});

Testing Your Setup​

Using the Demo​

Test your API keys with our interactive demo:

  1. Visit react-demo.livei18n.com
  2. Enter your API key and customer ID
  3. Try translating some text
  4. Verify the translations work correctly

API Testing​

You can also test directly with the API:

curl -X POST https://api.livei18n.com/api/v1/translate \
  -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key" \
  -H "X-Customer-ID: your_customer_id" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "text": "Hello, world!",
    "locale": "spanish",
    "cache_key": "test_key_123"
  }'

Security Best Practices​

Environment Management​

It is best practice to use a separate API key for each environment your application supports.

Key Rotation​

Rotate your API keys, regularly or if you suspect they have been compromised:

  1. Generate a new API key
  2. Update your applications
  3. Test thoroughly
  4. Deactivate the old key

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

401 Unauthorized Error

  • Verify your API key is correct
  • Check that the customer ID matches
  • Ensure the key hasn't been deactivated

Rate Limit Exceeded

  • Check your current usage in the dashboard
  • Consider upgrading your plan
  • Implement proper caching

Getting Help​

If you're still having authentication issues:

  1. Test with the demo
  2. Contact our support team

Next Steps​

Now that authentication is configured: