Secret Generator: Create Random API Keys & Tokens Online
Generate cryptographically random secrets, API keys, and tokens with customizable length and alphabet.
Try the free online tool mentioned in this guide:Secret / API Key Generator
Why generate strong secrets?
API keys and secrets must be unpredictable and long. Weak secrets are vulnerable to brute force and attacks:
- Bad:
secret123,password, sequential numbers. - Good: 32+ character random strings using crypto-secure randomness.
Cryptographic randomness ensures no patterns or repetition.
Types of secrets you might generate
- API keys — authenticate requests to your API.
- OAuth tokens — long-lived or refresh tokens.
- Webhook secrets — sign webhook payloads for verification.
- JWT secrets — sign JSON Web Tokens (HMAC-SHA256).
- Database passwords — strong random credentials.
- Session tokens — temporary identifiers for user sessions.
Configurable secret generation
Length: Longer is better. 32-64 characters recommended.
Alphabet:
- Alphanumeric (a-z, A-Z, 0-9)
- Hex (0-9, a-f) — safer for some systems.
- Full ASCII — includes symbols like !@#.
- Base62 — alphanumeric without symbols.
- Custom — select specific characters.
MyDevTools uses crypto.getRandomValues() for cryptographic strength.
Best practices for secrets
- Generate offline — use a browser-based tool, no server transmission.
- Store securely — environment variables, secrets manager, not hardcoded.
- Rotate regularly — change secrets quarterly or after incidents.
- Audit access — track who has each secret.
- Never commit — exclude
.envand secrets from version control.
Frequently asked questions
Is browser-based generation truly random?
Yes, `crypto.getRandomValues()` is cryptographically secure. It uses OS randomness (entropy from hardware and kernel).
Can I regenerate the same secret?
No, cryptographic randomness is non-deterministic. Regenerating produces a different secret each time.
How do I store generated secrets?
Use environment variables, secrets managers (AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault, 1Password), or encrypted config files. Never hardcode.