> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ileolami.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Application Level Authentication

> The Default Way to Authenticate

Application-level authentication is generally the default method for authenticating with the API.
Version 3 can be controlled either by a single query parameter, `api_key`, or by using your access token as a `Bearer` token.
You can request an API key by logging into your TMDB account and clicking [here](https://www.themoviedb.org/settings/api).

## Bearer Token

The default method to authenticate is with your access token.
Go to your account page, under the `API settings` section, and you will see a new token listed called `API Read Access Token`. This token should be sent as an `Authorization` header.

<Frame>
  <img height="200" noZoom src="https://mintcdn.com/ileolami/syMk3_IRf-DX-Dwg/images/annotely_image.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=syMk3_IRf-DX-Dwg&q=85&s=6d18433466b1d62883ac36685446b8cf" data-path="images/annotely_image.png" />
</Frame>

Here is a simple cURL example using this method:

```shell cURL example theme={null}
curl --request GET \
     --url 'https://api.themoviedb.org/3/movie/11' \
     --header 'Authorization: Bearer {ACCESS_TOKEN}'
```