> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.coverwhale.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Base URL

> Production and test environments for the Cover Whale API

The Cover Whale API has two environments. Pick the one that matches your stage of integration.

## Environments

| Environment    | Base URL                        | When to use                                                                             |
| -------------- | ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Production** | `https://api.coverwhale.com/v1` | Live policies, real premiums, real binds. Use once your integration is certified.       |
| **Test**       | `https://api.coverwhale.dev/v1` | Development and integration testing. Safe to experiment — no real policies are created. |

<Note>
  All curl examples throughout this documentation use the **test** base URL so you can copy, paste, and run them safely. When you're ready to go live, switch the host from `api.coverwhale.dev` to `api.coverwhale.com` — the path, headers, and payloads are identical.
</Note>

## Credentials

Test and production use **separate credentials**. Request both from [api-support@coverwhale.com](mailto:api-support@coverwhale.com). Production credentials are issued after your integration is reviewed against the [Integration Checklist](/integration-checklist).

## Switching between environments

Only the host changes. A request that works against test will work against production once you swap the host and use production credentials.

```bash theme={null}
# Test
curl -X POST https://api.coverwhale.dev/v1/authentication \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"username": "test-user", "password": "test-password"}'

# Production
curl -X POST https://api.coverwhale.com/v1/authentication \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"username": "prod-user", "password": "prod-password"}'
```