Principle:Cohere ai Cohere python SDK Authentication
| Metadata | |
|---|---|
| Source Repo | Cohere Python SDK |
| Source Doc | Cohere Docs |
| Domains | API_Authentication, SDK_Configuration |
| Last Updated | 2026-02-15 14:00 GMT |
Overview
A configuration pattern for securely providing API credentials to SDK clients via environment variables or explicit parameters.
Description
SDK Authentication is the process of providing valid API credentials to an SDK client before making API calls. The Cohere Python SDK supports multiple authentication strategies: reading from environment variables (CO_API_KEY preferred, COHERE_API_KEY as fallback), passing a string directly, or providing a callable that returns a key. This pattern decouples credential management from application code, enabling secure deployment across different environments without hardcoded secrets.
Usage
Use this principle when initializing any Cohere SDK client. Authentication must be configured before any API calls can be made. Prefer environment variables for production deployments and explicit keys for testing or scripting.
Theoretical Basis
API key authentication follows the shared-secret model where the client presents a pre-shared token with each request. The SDK implements a priority chain: explicit parameter > CO_API_KEY env var > COHERE_API_KEY env var. This layered approach follows the principle of least surprise while maintaining backwards compatibility.