{"slug": "why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk", "title": "Why do LLM keys all start with sk?", "summary": "A Hacker News user asked why large language model API keys consistently use the \"sk-\" prefix, contrasting with the varied formats of older API keys. The question highlights a shift in API key conventions driven by the rise of LLM providers.", "body_md": "Hacker News\nnew\n|\npast\n|\ncomments\n|\nask\n|\nshow\n|\njobs\n|\nsubmit\nlogin\nWhy do LLM keys all start with sk?\n2 points\nby\nswaraj\n7 minutes ago\n|\nhide\n|\npast\n|\nfavorite\n|\ndiscuss\nGenuinely curious, as a builder for so long, API keys took all shapes and sizes, but what's with the sk prefix these days?\nhelp\nGuidelines\n|\nFAQ\n|\nLists\n|\nAPI\n|\nSecurity\n|\nLegal\n|\nApply to YC\n|\nContact\nSearch:", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk", "canonical_source": "https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48311226", "published_at": "2026-05-28 16:24:48+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-05-28 16:32:32.142613+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["large-language-models", "artificial-intelligence", "ai-tools"], "entities": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/why-do-llm-keys-all-start-with-sk.jsonld"}}