> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/patchworks-core-api/core-api-authentication.md).

# Core API authentication

## Introduction

You can authenticate the Patchworks API using:

* [API keys](/product-documentation/developer-hub/patchworks-core-api/core-api-authentication/api-keys.md)\
  Generate a key from the Patchworks dashboard and pass this in requests as an `authorization` header.
* [OAuth 2 (client credentials)](/product-documentation/developer-hub/patchworks-core-api/core-api-authentication/oauth-2-client-credentials.md)\
  Use your dashboard account credentials to generate a token and pass this in requests as an `authorization` header.