---
updatedAt: 2025-09-24T23:39:25.000Z
agentTools:
  projectIndex: https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/llms.txt
---

# API authentication

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  ### Navigation

  * [Overview](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/mesh-upgrade-guide)
  * [Terminology](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/terminology)
  * [Conceptual differences](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/conceptual-differences)
  * Use cases
    * **[API authentication.](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/authentication)**
    * [Onboarding and screening a customer.](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/onboarding)
    * [Checking for hits/profiles.](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/hits)
    * [Retrieving detailed entity/profile information.](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/page/risks)
</Callout>

<Callout icon="💡" theme="default">
  ### Use case: How to generate an API token and authenticate requests
</Callout>

| Current solution                                                                                                                                                                   | ComplyAdvantage Mesh                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| API keys are generated through the solution's UI and supplied as a query parameter or authorization header in the request. Keys do not expire, but rotation of keys is encouraged. | An API request **/token** with a set of credentials is needed to generate a bearer token. The token returned can then be used in the authorization header of subsequent requests. The token has a validity period of 24 hours. |
| [API reference](https://docs.complyadvantage.com/#authentication)                                                                                                                  | [API reference](https://docs.mesh.complyadvantage.com/reference/createtoken)                                                                                                                                                   |