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

# Make your first API request

> Verify a local test API key with whoami.

`GET /v1/whoami` is the smallest useful check of your API-key setup. It returns the project, environment, and key metadata associated with the credential you sent. It does not exercise a mandate or move value.

## Use a key from your server

Follow [create a local test project](/get-started/test-project) first. In your terminal, set `GOL_API_KEY` to the test secret you copied. Keep the secret out of source files, browser code, shell history, screenshots, and logs.

Then send the request to your local platform:

```sh theme={null}
curl --fail-with-body http://127.0.0.1:4100/v1/whoami \
  --header "Accept: application/json" \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer $GOL_API_KEY"
```

A successful response identifies the project and shows `"environment": "test"`. The `apiKey` object includes the key name, a non-secret hint, and its scopes. It does **not** return the key secret.

## Check the result

Confirm the project name is the one you created and the scopes are the ones you selected. If they differ, stop and check which key your server loaded. If the request fails, see [troubleshooting](/guides/troubleshooting) and the [error guide](/guides/errors).

Your successful request should also appear in the project's audit history in the local console. That history is an operational record of the developer credential, not evidence of a payment.