GlossaryConceptUpdated September 2026

API key

noun · also: oauth, integration

What is api key?

An API key is a secret token that authenticates an app to an API — simpler than OAuth but with no granular permission control.

Definition

Full definition of api key

Many smaller SaaS apps issue API keys instead of supporting OAuth. You generate a key inside the app's settings, paste it into Tiny Command, and Tiny Command sends it on every API request. Keys are typically all-or-nothing — anyone holding the key gets full account access — so they should be rotated regularly and never committed to public repos.

In practice

API key examples

Airtable key
Generate a personal access token in Airtable, paste into Tiny Command's connection field, save.
Used by

Apps that exemplify api key

See api key in action across real integrations.

FAQ

Common questions about api key

Where does Tiny Command store API keys?
In the connection you create for that app, which your workflows use when they call it. Treat the key like a password and rotate it if it leaks.

Learn automation, one term at a time

Get plain-English automation guides and templates in your inbox. No spam.

Or skip ahead — start free →