# API Basics
source: https://developer.mastercard.com/mastercard-developers-api/documentation/api-basics/index.md

## API Security {#api-security}

### Client Authentication {#client-authentication}

Mastercard uses OAuth 1.0a for authenticating your application. You can manage your authentication keys from your [Account](https://developer.mastercard.com/account/profile) page.
Tip: Do you want to learn more about the authentication scheme Mastercard uses? For that, read our [Using OAuth 1.0a to Access Mastercard APIs](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/security-and-authentication/using-oauth-1a-to-access-mastercard-apis/) guide.

## How to Consume the Developers API? {#how-to-consume-the-developers-api}

There are multiple ways of integrating with the Developers API:

* Option 1: Generating your own Developers API client (recommended)
* Option 2: Using a method of your choice

### Generating Your Own API Client {#generating-your-own-api-client}

Create customizable API clients from the Developers API specification and let Mastercard open-source client libraries handle the authentication for you. This approach offers the more flexibility and is strongly recommended.

For this, follow our [Generate and Configure an API Client](https://developer.mastercard.com/mastercard-developers-api/documentation/tutorials-and-guides/generate-an-api-client/index.md) tutorial.

### Using a Method of Your Choice {#using-a-method-of-your-choice}

The Developers API exposes a REST API: you are free to use the REST/HTTP client of your choice and can still leverage the Mastercard open-source [client libraries](https://developer.mastercard.com/platform/documentation/security-and-authentication/using-oauth-1a-to-access-mastercard-apis/#client-libraries) for signing your requests.

For that, refer to the [API Reference](https://developer.mastercard.com/mastercard-developers-api/documentation/api-reference/index.md).