Lesson Content

Obtaining API credentials.

API access requires generating an API key from the HeyGen account or developer portal. Usage is metered against the account's generation limits – API-generated videos typically draw from the same credit pool as web interface production. Verify current API access requirements and key generation at heygen.com/docs.

Authenticating requests.

API requests authenticate via an API key included in the request header. Store API keys securely (environment variables or secrets managers) – never hardcoded in source code that may be committed to version control.

Making a basic generation request (illustrative pattern).

import requests

response = requests.post(
"https://api.heygen.com/v2/video/generate", # illustrative – verify actual endpoint
headers={
"X-Api-Key": API_KEY,
"Content-Type": "application/json"
},
json={
"video_inputs": [{
"character": {"type": "avatar", "avatar_id": "AVATAR_ID"},
"voice": {"type": "text", "input_text": "Welcome to our product overview.", "voice_id": "VOICE_ID"}
}],
"dimension": {"width": 1280, "height": 720}
}
)
video_id = response.json().get("data", {}).get("video_id")

Verify the actual current API endpoints, required parameters, and request body format in HeyGen's official API documentation – this is an illustrative pattern only.

Async generation pattern.

Video generation is asynchronous – the initial request returns a video ID, not the finished video. A separate status check request (polling the video status endpoint) is required to determine when generation is complete and retrieve the output URL. Verify the current status check and retrieval pattern at heygen.com/docs.