+++
title = "Authentication HTTP API "
description = "Grafana Authentication HTTP API"
keywords = ["grafana", "http", "documentation", "api", "authentication"]
aliases = ["/http_api/authentication/"]
type = "docs"
[menu.docs]
name = "Authentication"
parent = "http_api"
+++

# Authentication API

## Tokens

Currently you can authenticate via an `API Token` or via a `Session cookie` (acquired using regular login or oauth).

## Basic Auth

If basic auth is enabled (it is enabled by default) you can authenticate your HTTP request via
standard basic auth.

curl example:
```
?curl http://admin:admin@localhost:3000/api/org
{"id":1,"name":"Main Org."}
```

## Create API Token

Open the sidemenu and click the organization dropdown and select the `API Keys` option.

![](/img/v2/orgdropdown_api_keys.png)

You use the token in all requests in the `Authorization` header, like this:

**Example**:

    GET http://your.grafana.com/api/dashboards/db/mydash HTTP/1.1
    Accept: application/json
    Authorization: Bearer eyJrIjoiT0tTcG1pUlY2RnVKZTFVaDFsNFZXdE9ZWmNrMkZYbk

The `Authorization` header value should be `Bearer <your api key>`.