Implementation:Cohere ai Cohere python API Key From Environment

Metadata
Source Repo	Cohere Python SDK
Domains	API_Authentication, SDK_Configuration
Last Updated	2026-02-15 14:00 GMT

Overview

Concrete utility function for retrieving Cohere API keys from environment variables.

Description

The _get_api_key_from_environment function reads the API key from environment variables using a priority chain. It checks CO_API_KEY first (the documented and preferred variable), then falls back to COHERE_API_KEY. Returns None if neither is set. This function is called automatically by Client.__init__ and ClientV2.__init__ when no explicit api_key parameter is provided.

Usage

This function is called automatically during client initialization when no explicit api_key is passed. You don't call it directly — just set the CO_API_KEY environment variable before creating a client.

Code Reference

• Source Location: Repository cohere-ai/cohere-python, File src/cohere/client.py, Lines L514-519
• Signature:

def _get_api_key_from_environment() -> typing.Optional[str]:
    return os.getenv("CO_API_KEY", os.getenv("COHERE_API_KEY"))

• Import: from cohere.client import _get_api_key_from_environment (internal; typically not imported directly)

I/O Contract

Name	Type	Required	Description
Inputs
CO_API_KEY	Environment variable (str)	No	Preferred API key source
COHERE_API_KEY	Environment variable (str)	No	Fallback API key source
Outputs
Return value	Optional[str]	—	The API key string, or None if neither variable is set

Usage Examples

import os
# Set the API key in environment
os.environ["CO_API_KEY"] = "your-api-key-here"

# Client automatically picks up the key
from cohere import ClientV2
client = ClientV2()  # Uses CO_API_KEY from environment

Related Pages

• Principle:Cohere_ai_Cohere_python_SDK_Authentication
• Environment:Cohere_ai_Cohere_python_Python_SDK_Runtime
• Environment:Cohere_ai_Cohere_python_Cohere_API_Credentials