# Authentication

To authenticate any request in the QuillShield API, you must pass the x-api-key in the header of all your requests to the domain shield-api-dev.quillaudits.com.

#### Here's How to Get Started <a href="#heres-how-to-get-started" id="heres-how-to-get-started"></a>

#### Step 1: 🔑Request an API key by contacting the team via <product@quillai.network>. <a href="#step-1-request-an-api-key-by-contacting-the-team-via-product-quillai.network" id="step-1-request-an-api-key-by-contacting-the-team-via-product-quillai.network"></a>

#### Step 2: 🎉 Make Your First Request <a href="#step-2-make-your-first-request" id="step-2-make-your-first-request"></a>

📑 Replace **"`YOUR_API_KEY"`** with your **API Key,** which was received by completing Step 1.

```
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" https://shield-api.quillai.network/api/v1/projects/list
```


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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://quillainetwork.gitbook.io/quillai-network/agent-swarm/quillshield/api-guide/authentication.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.