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

# Authentication

> Set up authentication for the Legnext Java SDK

## Get Your API Key

1. Visit [Legnext Dashboard](https://dashboard.legnext.ai)
2. Log in to your account
3. Navigate to **API Keys** section
4. Create a new API key
5. Copy and save it securely

## Using Your API Key

### Method 1: Direct Initialization

```java theme={null}
import org.openapitools.client.ApiClient;
import org.openapitools.client.Configuration;
import org.openapitools.client.api.ImageApi;

public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ApiClient apiClient = Configuration.getDefaultApiClient();
        apiClient.setBasePath("https://api.legnext.ai");

        ImageApi imageApi = new ImageApi(apiClient);

        String apiKey = "your-api-key-here";
        // Use apiKey as parameter in method calls
    }
}
```

### Method 2: Environment Variable (Recommended)

Set the environment variable:

```bash theme={null}
# macOS/Linux
export LEGNEXT_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

# Windows CMD
set LEGNEXT_API_KEY=your-api-key-here

# Windows PowerShell
$env:LEGNEXT_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
```

Then in your code:

```java theme={null}
public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ApiClient apiClient = Configuration.getDefaultApiClient();
        apiClient.setBasePath("https://api.legnext.ai");

        String apiKey = System.getenv("LEGNEXT_API_KEY");

        ImageApi imageApi = new ImageApi(apiClient);
        // Use apiKey as parameter in method calls
    }
}
```

### Method 3: Properties File

Create a `config.properties` file:

```properties theme={null}
legnext.api.key=your-api-key-here
legnext.api.baseurl=https://api.legnext.ai
```

Load it in your code:

```java theme={null}
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.util.Properties;
import org.openapitools.client.ApiClient;
import org.openapitools.client.Configuration;
import org.openapitools.client.api.ImageApi;

public class Example {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {
        Properties props = new Properties();
        props.load(new FileInputStream("config.properties"));

        ApiClient apiClient = Configuration.getDefaultApiClient();
        apiClient.setBasePath(props.getProperty("legnext.api.baseurl"));

        String apiKey = props.getProperty("legnext.api.key");

        ImageApi imageApi = new ImageApi(apiClient);
        // Use apiKey as parameter in method calls
    }
}
```

## Security Best Practices

⚠️ **Never hardcode API keys in your code**

✅ **Always use environment variables or configuration files**

✅ **Add configuration files to `.gitignore`**

✅ **Rotate keys regularly and revoke compromised ones**

***

## Next Steps

* [Quick Start](/sdk/java/quickstart)
* [Image Generation API](/sdk/java/image-generation)
* [Video Generation API](/sdk/java/video-generation)