# Test key (sandbox)

> A test key is an API credential that accepts, validates and prices requests exactly like a live key but never sends a message or bills the balance, so an integration can be built before any money is deposited.

A sandbox lets you exercise the whole flow, request shape, error codes, webhook delivery, without consequences. The best sandboxes behave like production in every respect except the send: same validation, same prices in the response, same event format, with a status that makes the difference explicit.

It is also the honest way to offer a free trial: nothing is given away, nothing is faked.

At SMSMeteor: every account has an `sk_test_` key; messages return status `test` with the real price and segments, and a test webhook event can be triggered from the panel.

Related terms: [API key](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/api-key), [Webhook](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/webhook), [REST API (SMS)](https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/rest-api)

---
Source: https://smsmeteor.com/glossary/test-key (HTML). Generated by SMSMeteor from the same data as the page. Summary of the whole site: https://smsmeteor.com/llms.txt