Authenticate with an API key

Learn how to authenticate a request to view users in the portal with an API key.

Prerequisites

Steps

Create a new app

1. Open a terminal and create a new folder for your project.

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   mkdir authenticate-with-an-api-key
   cd authenticate-with-an-api-key

2. Initialize a new Node.js project. This creates a package.json file.

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   npm init

3. Install the required packages.

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   npm install @esri/arcgis-rest-request  --save

4. Create a new JavaScript file named index.js.

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   touch index.js

Get an access token

1. Sign in to your portal.

   • ArcGIS Location Platform: Go to https://location.arcgis.com and sign in. In the dashboard, click My portal to go to your portal.
   • ArcGIS Online: Go to https://arcgis.com and sign in.

2. In your portal, click Content > My content > New item.

3. Click Developer credentials > API key credentials and click Next.

4. In the Where will you use these credentials? menu, select Private application with selected privileges and access.

5. Click Next. Select No item access and click Next again.

6. In the Privileges window, select General privileges > Members > View and click Next.

7. Provide a title and description for your API key credential. Click Next.

8. In the Summary window, review the properties, privileges, and item access you have set. Then, click Next.

9. Select Generate the API key and go to item details page. I am ready to copy and save the key. Then, click Next.

10. Copy the access token from the window that appears and store it in a safe location.

Make a request

1. Open your index.js file and import the library.

   index.js

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   import { ApiKeyManager, request } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-request";
   
   

2. Paste in your access token.

   index.js

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   import { ApiKeyManager, request } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-request";
   
   const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
   const authentication = ApiKeyManager.fromKey(accessToken);
   
   

3. Search for users with the name john within the portal and print the results to the console.

   index.js

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   import { ApiKeyManager, request } from "@esri/arcgis-rest-request";
   
   const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
   const authentication = ApiKeyManager.fromKey(accessToken);
   
   const url = "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/community/users";
   
   request(url, {
     authentication,
     params: {
       q: "john" // The query string to search the users against
     }
   }).then((response) => {
     console.log(JSON.stringify(response, null, 2));
   });

4. Save the file, then run it from the terminal.

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   node index.js

You should now see the results printed in your console.

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{
  "total": 10000,
  "start": 1,
  "num": 10,
  "nextStart": 11,
  "results": [
    {
      "username": "JohnDoe",
      "fullName": "John Doe",
      "id": "123",
      "firstName": "John",
      "lastName": "Doe",
      "provider": null,
      "created": 1540585165000,
      "modified": 1761576562000,

What's next?

Learn how to use additional location services in these tutorials: