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

# Getting Credentials

## Types of Credentials

There are two types of credentials, sandbox and production credentials.  The sandbox credentials are for use in the sandbox environment during testing while the production credentials are set up when going live.

## Structure of Credentials

The API credentials include a Client ID and a Secret Key that will be used to generate a unique signature for each api request you make to use the Niobi API.

## Getting Credentials

Please follow these steps to set up your api credentials:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Creating a new integration">
    <ol type="a">
      <li>
        In the developer account, on the sidebar menu under "Integration", select
        the option "API Keys" where you will generate API keys.
      </li>

      <li>
        Begin by creating your first integration by clicking the "Create
        Integration" button. We recommend creating one integration for each of
        the projects you are using the APIs with.
      </li>

      <li>
        You would need to create separate integrations for both sandbox and live
        accounts in the respective environment.
      </li>
    </ol>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generating API Credentials">
    <ol type="a">
      <li>
        Within the Integration settings, the developer can generate the required
        credentials for the integration.{' '}
      </li>

      <li>
        These credentials typically consist of a Client ID and Secret Key. Make
        sure to save these credentials securely. Treat your Secret Key like a password—never expose it in code or logs.
      </li>

      <li>
        This key serves as your authentication mechanism when making API
        requests. Once generated, make sure to securely store your Secret Key and
        avoid sharing it publicly.
      </li>

      <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.loom.com/embed/1ab1a139aeb84c42a32fd7a4bd04afa7?sid=f25cf088-a7cd-4755-b81f-5d1bb7df7e8e" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen />
    </ol>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Using the credentials">
    You are now ready to integrate the Niobi Payments API into your application.
    Please follow our details [Authentication
    Guide](/signaturegeneration) to securely access our APIs and
    protect the integrity of your requests.
  </Step>
</Steps>