# Authentication & API Keys

All endpoints except `GET /health` require an API key.

### Headers

Use bearer auth by default on every public endpoint:

```
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
```

### Example Request

```bash
curl https://api.gateway.zert.com/api/v1/chains \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
```

### Getting an API Key

API keys can be generated and managed directly from the Developer Dashboard - <https://dashboard.zert.com/>

Or [contact us](https://www.zert.com/contact-us) to request API access.

### Unauthenticated Endpoint

The health check does not require authentication:

```bash
curl https://api.gateway.zert.com/api/v1/health
```

Returns service status and uptime. Useful for monitoring.


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.zert.com/getting-started/authentication-and-api-keys.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.