# Set Up Development Environment

Learn how to set up your development environment to make authenticated requests to the Finix API. After setup, you can send test API requests from your Sandbox environment.

## Overview

This guide walks you through the credentials and configuration you need to call the Finix API, including HTTP Basic Authentication, environment base URLs, and how to find your `Merchant` ID.

## Before you begin

Get started by [creating a sandbox account](https://finix.payments-dashboard.com/signup) with Finix.

Before you can process payments using the Finix API, you need:

- [An API key](/additional-resources/developers/authentication-and-api-basics/api-keys).
- Your business's `Merchant` ID.


## Finix API overview

The Finix API is resource oriented and relies on common REST principles. The Finix API uses JSON-encoded requests and responses.

Finix provides separate Sandbox and Live accounts, along with the corresponding API credentials to access the Finix API.

## Authentication

To communicate with the Finix API, you must authenticate your requests via HTTP Basic Authentication with a `username:password` combination, which you can get from your Finix Dashboard. If you do not have a Dashboard yet, you can test the Finix API with the Sandbox credentials below.

| Parameter | Value |
|  --- | --- |
| Sandbox Username | `USsRhsHYZGBPnQw8CByJyEQW` |
| Sandbox Password | `8a14c2f9-d94b-4c72-8f5c-a62908e5b30e` |



```shell Request Format
curl "https://finix.sandbox-payments-api.com/" \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "Finix-Version: 2022-02-01" \
    -u USsRhsHYZGBPnQw8CByJyEQW:8a14c2f9-d94b-4c72-8f5c-a62908e5b30e
```

## Environments

Finix provides two environments with distinct base URLs to make API requests.

1. A Sandbox environment for developing and testing your integration.
2. A Live environment for processing payments.


These environments are entirely separate and do not share API Credentials.

| Environment | Endpoint URL |
|  --- | --- |
| Sandbox | `https://finix.sandbox-payments-api.com` |
| Live | `https://finix.live-payments-api.com` |


Live access
To get access to the Live environment, reach out to your Finix point of contact.

## Supported countries

Finix supports entities in the following countries:

- United States
- Canada


## Create an API key

To create an API key from the dashboard, log in and click **Developer** → **Create API Key**. Save the username and password that get returned. You cannot access the credentials again after closing the window.

As you use the credentials in your Finix API requests, that activity shows up in the Finix Dashboard.

## Find your Merchant ID

Click **Developer** to find your business's `Merchant` ID under **Finix Processing Details**. Use the `Application` and `Merchant` IDs along with the API key to process payments in your integration.

If you need additional help finding your `Merchant` ID, reach out to the Finix support team at [support@finix.com](mailto:support@finix.com).

## Next steps

Developer Quickstart
Create an Identity, tokenize payment details, and make your first payment.

API Keys
Learn how to create and manage the API keys that authenticate your requests.