Authentication

All requests to the New Venue Data API must be authenticated with an API key. Include your key in the Authorization header as a Bearer token.

API Keys

You receive two keys when you create an account: a test key (prefixed ls_test_) and a live key (prefixed ls_live_). Test keys return the same mock dataset on every call. Live keys return real DBPR data.

# Test key (same response every time)
curl -X GET "https://api.newvenuedata.com/v1/licenses" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ls_test_your_key_here"

# Live key (real DBPR data)
curl -X GET "https://api.newvenuedata.com/v1/licenses" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ls_live_your_key_here"

Key Security

Never expose your live API key in client-side code, public repositories, or logs. Store it as an environment variable and load it at runtime. If a key is compromised, rotate it immediately from the dashboard.

# Store in your environment
export LICENSESIGNAL_API_KEY="ls_live_your_key_here"

# Load in Node.js
const key = process.env.LICENSESIGNAL_API_KEY