generated: '2026-07-18'
method: searched
source: https://docs.tryardent.com/api/authentication
summary: >-
  Ardent separates test and live access at the API-key level via key prefixes. It does not publish
  magic test identifiers or fixture data (the product itself provisions isolated, disposable branch
  databases, which act as the throwaway test environment). No hosted test cards/tokens apply — this
  is not a payments API.
test_live_separation:
  mechanism: api-key-prefix
  live_prefix: sk-ard_live_
  test_prefix: sk-ard_test_
  header: "Authorization: Bearer <key>"
  docs: https://docs.tryardent.com/api/authentication
disposable_environments:
  description: >-
    Every database branch is a fully isolated, disposable copy of the source Postgres database,
    scaled to zero when idle. Branches are the intended safe sandbox for migrations, backfills,
    destructive tests, and agent experiments; deleting the branch tears the environment down.
  create: POST /v1/branch/create
  connect: GET /v1/branches/{connector_id}
  cli: ardent branch create <name> --print-url
free_credit:
  starter_one_time_credit_usd: 30
  source: https://www.tryardent.com/pricing
notes: >-
  No published static test database URLs or example credentials; the quickstart uses a placeholder
  ARDENT_DB_URL that the user supplies. Never fabricate test values.