TLDR
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the different authentication methods that Chainstack offers. Our goal is to guide you in understanding these options and to assist in selecting the most appropriate method tailored to your specific use cases.
Let’s explore the authentication methods available and how they apply to various scenarios.
API authentication is a crucial factor in application programming interface (API) development, used to verify the identities of applications or users utilizing the API. Different kinds of authentication methods are available in the API world; let’s briefly explore the four primary methods used for API authentication.
Here’s a quick comparison table:
Method | Security | Complexity |
---|---|---|
API Key | Low | Low |
Basic authentication | Medium (if used over HTTPS) | Low |
Digest authentication | Medium | Medium |
OAuth | High | High |
JWT | High | Medium |
Remember that choosing the right authentication method for your API depends on your specific use case, including your security needs and the resources available for implementation.
The Chainstack platform api only accepts an API key as a bearer token as a form of authentication, so we’ll focus on this in the next section.
Header authentication with a bearer token is a common method employed in API requests. This approach involves attaching an authorization header with a bearer token in each HTTP request to the server. This token is a cryptic string, ensuring that data access is only granted to the token’s bearer, thus giving this authentication method its name.
In the context of the Chainstack platform, it’s crucial to note that header authentication using a bearer token is fully supported for the platform API requests. This means users can authenticate their API calls on the platform by simply including the bearer token in their request headers.
However, bearer token authentication is currently unavailable when it comes to blockchain APIs. Blockchain nodes typically don’t provide traditional user-based authentication.
Chainstack uses API keys or similar mechanisms to authenticate requests to the hosted nodes. However, these are not traditional bearer tokens.
The following is an example of how to send a header authenticated to the Chainstack platform API using a bearer token.
Check out the Docs to learn how to generate your Chainstack API key.
This example calls the Get Organization name and ID
API, which returns the organization name and ID belonging to the API key. Edit YOUR_CHAINSTACK_API_KEY
with the API key you get from the Chainstack console.
Example response:
When choosing an authentication method for your scenario, consider the following points:
Chainstack offers two sets of credentials to access a node. One is via endpoints incorporating the API key directly in the URL, and the other is through endpoints requiring a username and password for access.
You can use the endpoint with an auth token like you can find in your Chainstack console:
https://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN
wss://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/ws/YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN
You can use a POST request like the following to access the HTTPS endpoint via a curl command.
This example shows how to retrieve the client version, one of the standard Ethereum JSON-RPC methods.
Make sure to replace the placeholder endpoint with your endpoint.
For the blockchain API requests, you can also use basic authentication:
https://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com
wss://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/ws
YOUR_USER_NAME
YOUR_PASSWORD
You can find your username and password credentials in the Chainstack console.
For password-protected access, you include the username and password in your curl
command like so:
In this command, -u YOUR_USER_NAME:YOUR_PASSWORD
includes your username and password for basic authentication. Please replace YOUR_PASSWORD
with your actual password.
Keeping your API key and username/password secure is critical to prevent unauthorized access to your blockchain node.
The realm of API authentication is vast, encompassing a variety of methods, each with its distinct security levels and complexities. From the simplest API Keys to the secure OAuth and JWT methods, the choice depends largely on your specific use case and the resources you have available for implementation.
In the context of Chainstack, platform API requests are authenticated through a bearer token. However, when it comes to blockchain APIs, bearer token authentication is currently not available, and API keys or basic authentication are the preferred methods.
Regardless of your chosen method, it is crucial to remember that the security of your API access points is paramount. Always safeguard your API keys, usernames, and passwords to prevent unauthorized access. Also, consider your use case’s specific needs and requirements, including the level of security and complexity required for your API requests and the compatibility and flexibility of the chosen authentication method with your existing systems.
Remember, the ultimate goal of API authentication is to facilitate secure access to services, ensure user data privacy, and prevent unauthorized access. By understanding and effectively implementing the right authentication methods, you are well on your way to achieving these goals in your software development endeavors.
TLDR
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the different authentication methods that Chainstack offers. Our goal is to guide you in understanding these options and to assist in selecting the most appropriate method tailored to your specific use cases.
Let’s explore the authentication methods available and how they apply to various scenarios.
API authentication is a crucial factor in application programming interface (API) development, used to verify the identities of applications or users utilizing the API. Different kinds of authentication methods are available in the API world; let’s briefly explore the four primary methods used for API authentication.
Here’s a quick comparison table:
Method | Security | Complexity |
---|---|---|
API Key | Low | Low |
Basic authentication | Medium (if used over HTTPS) | Low |
Digest authentication | Medium | Medium |
OAuth | High | High |
JWT | High | Medium |
Remember that choosing the right authentication method for your API depends on your specific use case, including your security needs and the resources available for implementation.
The Chainstack platform api only accepts an API key as a bearer token as a form of authentication, so we’ll focus on this in the next section.
Header authentication with a bearer token is a common method employed in API requests. This approach involves attaching an authorization header with a bearer token in each HTTP request to the server. This token is a cryptic string, ensuring that data access is only granted to the token’s bearer, thus giving this authentication method its name.
In the context of the Chainstack platform, it’s crucial to note that header authentication using a bearer token is fully supported for the platform API requests. This means users can authenticate their API calls on the platform by simply including the bearer token in their request headers.
However, bearer token authentication is currently unavailable when it comes to blockchain APIs. Blockchain nodes typically don’t provide traditional user-based authentication.
Chainstack uses API keys or similar mechanisms to authenticate requests to the hosted nodes. However, these are not traditional bearer tokens.
The following is an example of how to send a header authenticated to the Chainstack platform API using a bearer token.
Check out the Docs to learn how to generate your Chainstack API key.
This example calls the Get Organization name and ID
API, which returns the organization name and ID belonging to the API key. Edit YOUR_CHAINSTACK_API_KEY
with the API key you get from the Chainstack console.
Example response:
When choosing an authentication method for your scenario, consider the following points:
Chainstack offers two sets of credentials to access a node. One is via endpoints incorporating the API key directly in the URL, and the other is through endpoints requiring a username and password for access.
You can use the endpoint with an auth token like you can find in your Chainstack console:
https://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN
wss://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/ws/YOUR_AUTH_TOKEN
You can use a POST request like the following to access the HTTPS endpoint via a curl command.
This example shows how to retrieve the client version, one of the standard Ethereum JSON-RPC methods.
Make sure to replace the placeholder endpoint with your endpoint.
For the blockchain API requests, you can also use basic authentication:
https://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com
wss://ethereum-mainnet.core.chainstack.com/ws
YOUR_USER_NAME
YOUR_PASSWORD
You can find your username and password credentials in the Chainstack console.
For password-protected access, you include the username and password in your curl
command like so:
In this command, -u YOUR_USER_NAME:YOUR_PASSWORD
includes your username and password for basic authentication. Please replace YOUR_PASSWORD
with your actual password.
Keeping your API key and username/password secure is critical to prevent unauthorized access to your blockchain node.
The realm of API authentication is vast, encompassing a variety of methods, each with its distinct security levels and complexities. From the simplest API Keys to the secure OAuth and JWT methods, the choice depends largely on your specific use case and the resources you have available for implementation.
In the context of Chainstack, platform API requests are authenticated through a bearer token. However, when it comes to blockchain APIs, bearer token authentication is currently not available, and API keys or basic authentication are the preferred methods.
Regardless of your chosen method, it is crucial to remember that the security of your API access points is paramount. Always safeguard your API keys, usernames, and passwords to prevent unauthorized access. Also, consider your use case’s specific needs and requirements, including the level of security and complexity required for your API requests and the compatibility and flexibility of the chosen authentication method with your existing systems.
Remember, the ultimate goal of API authentication is to facilitate secure access to services, ensure user data privacy, and prevent unauthorized access. By understanding and effectively implementing the right authentication methods, you are well on your way to achieving these goals in your software development endeavors.