# Authentication Method ## 🔐 Authentication Authentication is required to securely access the **Smart Distribution API** endpoints. It ensures that only authorized partners can access hotel **search**, **booking**, and **cancellation** services. ### 🔑 Authentication Method Smart Distribution uses **API Key–based authentication**. Every request to the API must include the following headers: ``` ApiKey: ApiSecret: ``` * **ApiKey**: Provided by RateGain during onboarding * **ApiSecret**: Also provided by RateGain during onboarding These credentials uniquely identify and authorize your integration. ### 🧾 How to Obtain API Credentials To get your `ApiKey` and `ApiSecret`, please contact the **@RateGain Team**. These will be securely shared with you as part of the onboarding process. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://developer.rategain.com/our-products/smart-distribution/developer-guide/authentication-method.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.