---
type: api
title: Authentication
url: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch-serverless/authentication
resource: https://www.elastic.co/elastic/docs-builder/docs/4371/api/doc/elasticsearch-serverless/authentication
products:
  - Elasticsearch Serverless
---

# Authentication

## Api key (apiKeyAuth)

Elasticsearch APIs use key-based authentication.
You must create an API key and use the encoded value in the request header.
For example:


```
curl -X GET "${ES_URL}/_cat/indices?v=true" \
  -H "Authorization: ApiKey ${API_KEY}"
```

For more information about where to find API keys for the Elasticsearch endpoint (${ES_URL}) for a project, go to [Get started with Elasticsearch Serverless](https://www.elastic.co/docs/solutions/search/serverless-elasticsearch-get-started).

```http
Authorization: <value>
```