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

# Overview

Authentication is a crucial aspect of application security, particularly for applications that handle sensitive data. Fastgen provides robust authentication options to ensure secure access to your APIs and manage user authentication efficiently.

## Authentication Methods

Fastgen offers three primary methods to safeguard your API endpoints:

### Public Access

* **Unrestricted Access**: The Public option allows open access to the API endpoint, making it accessible to anyone on the internet. This setting is suitable for endpoints that do not contain sensitive information.

### API Token Protection

* **Secured by API Tokens**: Secure your endpoints by requiring pre-defined API tokens. Requests must include one of your API tokens in the `Authorization` header, formatted as `Authorization: Bearer <token>`.
* [Learn More about API Tokens](/api-routes/api-tokens)

### User Authentication

* **Access for Authenticated Users**: This option ensures that only users with valid login credentials can access the endpoint. Currently, the 'Default User' group is the only available option, which permits access to logged-in users with an active session from your project domain.
* [Learn More about User based authentication](/user-management/overview)