> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.manymiles.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.manymiles.app/getting-started.md).

# Getting started

## Getting an API token

To interact with the API, you need to request a generate an authentication token. To do this, make a POST request to the [Authenticate](/api/authenticate.md#authenticate) endpoint with your username and password in the request body.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note** that API tokens are only valid for 24 hours after time of generation.
{% endhint %}

## Using the API token

The token generated in [#getting-an-api-token](#getting-an-api-token "mention") can then be sent in the `api-token` header of a request to a protected endpoint such as [Users](/api/users.md#user).