# API Key

This page explains where ToriiDB looks for the OpenAI API key and what happens when none is found.

## Lookup Order

`openai.New` resolves the key in this order and trims whitespace at each step:

| Order | Source |
|---|---|
| 1 | The optional `apiKey` argument of `store.New(dir, apiKey)` / `daemon.New(dir, apiKey)` |
| 2 | `OPENAI_API_KEY` environment variable |
| 3 | OS keychain entry `OPENAI_API_KEY` under service `ToriiDB` |

Passing more than one `apiKey` value makes `store.New` fail with `just one api key`. When no key is found the store still opens; vector operations return `ErrNoEmbedder` (`no embedder: OPENAI_API_KEY not provided`). Use `Session.HasEmbedder()` or `Daemon.HasEmbedder(ctx)` to check.

## Related Pages

- [Configuration](/configuration)
- [Attaching Vectors](/vector-search)
- [openai](/api-reference-openai)