# Quick Start

## Get your API key

Your API requests are authenticated using API keys. Any request that doesn't include an API key will return an error.

You can ask your account manager to create an API key for you.

The production domain for the HIVE API is <https://app.hive.app/>, the staging domain is <https://staging.app.hive.app/>

## Install a REST client

The API uses JSON extensively. It only accepts requests where the body is valid JSON (so you need to set the header `content-type: application/json` in your requests). It's easier to interact with it using a REST client. Some options are:

* [Insomnia](https://insomnia.rest/)
* [Postman](https://www.postman.com/)
* [REST client extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=humao.rest-client) for VS code
* [curlie](https://curlie.io/) for the command line