Generating and managing API keys

API keys authenticate your AI assistant or integration with LinkDeal. Each key is tied to your account and uses your credits.

Generating a new key

1. Log in to LinkDeal
2. Go to Settings in the navigation
3. Scroll to the API Keys section
4. Click Generate New Key
5. Copy the key immediately

Important: The key is only shown once. If you lose it, you will need to generate a new one.

Key format

LinkDeal API keys start with "ld_" followed by a random string:

ld_abc123def456...

This prefix helps you identify LinkDeal keys in your config files.

Using your key

Add the key to your MCP server configuration (JSON format):

{

"env": {

"LINKDEAL_API_KEY": "ld_your_key_here"

}

}

Or set it as an environment variable:

export LINKDEAL_API_KEY=ld_your_key_here

Security best practices

One key per agent

Generate a separate key for each AI agent or integration. This makes it easy to revoke access if needed without affecting other integrations.

Keep keys private

• Never commit keys to git
• Do not share keys in chat or email
• Use environment variables or secure secret storage

Rotate regularly

Consider rotating keys periodically, especially if you suspect they may have been exposed.

Revoking a key

To revoke a key:

1. Go to Settings > API Keys
2. Find the key you want to revoke
3. Click Revoke

The key stops working immediately. Any integration using it will receive authentication errors.

Troubleshooting

Authentication errors: Check that the key is correct and has not been revoked.

Key not working after rotation: Update the key in all places where it is used (config files, environment variables).

Too many keys: Revoke unused keys to keep your list manageable.

Rate limits

API keys share the same rate limits as your web account. Normal usage should not trigger limits. If you need higher limits, contact help@linkdeal.ai.