Essential concepts
You do not need to understand gateway deployment to use Guangji API. These terms help you configure a client and read usage records.
Account and API key
Your account is for signing in, adding balance and checking usage. An API key authenticates requests from a client or application.
An account can have multiple keys. A separate key for each application makes it easier to track usage, disable access and rotate credentials.
Model and model ID
The model determines which capabilities handle a request. The model field must contain the exact model ID, including capitalization, suffixes and dates.
Copy it from the model marketplace. Availability also depends on the key's group and permissions.
Groups
A group can affect model availability, pricing and request rules. Use the same group when checking prices and configuring your key. A group name is not a model ID.
API tokens and usage tokens
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| API token / API key | A credential used for authentication |
| Input tokens | Units used to measure content sent to the model |
| Output tokens | Units used to measure generated content |
Token counts are not the same as character or word counts. System prompts and conversation history can contribute to input usage.
Account balance and key limit
Your balance pays for requests. A key's limit caps how much that key may consume; it is not a separate balance.
A request may fail despite a positive account balance if its key is out of quota, expired or disabled. An unlimited key limit does not mean free service or unlimited request rates.