Virtual keys are the API keys your applications use to authenticate with Raven. They map to your configured providers and give you fine-grained control over access.
Creating a Key
Go to Keys in the dashboard and click Create Key.
Key Options
| Option | Description |
|---|
| Name | A descriptive name for the key (e.g., “Production App”, “Staging”) |
| Environment | live or test — determines the key prefix |
| Rate Limit (RPM) | Maximum requests per minute |
| Rate Limit (RPD) | Maximum requests per day |
| Expiration | Optional date when the key automatically expires |
rk_live_abc123... → Live/production environment
rk_test_xyz789... → Test/development environment
Virtual keys are shown in full only once at creation time. Store them securely — you cannot retrieve the full key later.
Using Virtual Keys
Pass your virtual key in the Authorization header:
Authorization: Bearer rk_live_abc123...
Rate Limiting
Each virtual key can have its own rate limits:
- RPM (Requests Per Minute) — Protects against burst traffic
- RPD (Requests Per Day) — Controls daily usage
When a limit is exceeded, Raven returns a 429 Too Many Requests response with a Retry-After header.
Key Rotation
Rotate a key to generate a new secret while keeping the same configuration. The old key is immediately invalidated.
Go to Keys
Navigate to the key you want to rotate.
Click Rotate
Confirm the rotation. The old key stops working immediately.
Update Your Application
Replace the old key with the new one in your application.
