Base URL

Reviewed by Proof · Updated

Definition

A base URL is the fixed start of an API's address that every endpoint path is added to.

Key takeaways

  • The base URL is the shared first part of every request address, such as https://api.luv13.ai/v1.
  • Endpoint paths like /chat/completions and /models are added to the end of it.
  • Tools and SDKs built for OpenAI let you change the base URL so they can talk to another compatible provider.
  • For luv13, set the base URL to https://api.luv13.ai/v1.

How it works

An API address has two parts: the base URL and the endpoint path. With luv13:

Base URLPathFull address
https://api.luv13.ai/v1/modelshttps://api.luv13.ai/v1/models
https://api.luv13.ai/v1/chat/completionshttps://api.luv13.ai/v1/chat/completions

Because every path shares the same start, a client only needs the base URL once. It adds the right path for each call.

Where to change it

Most OpenAI-compatible clients have a setting for it, though the name varies: "Base URL", "API base", "Endpoint" or "OpenAI base URL override". In the official OpenAI SDKs it's the base_url (Python) or baseURL (Node) option. See Using the OpenAI SDKs.

Common mistakes

  • Adding the path twice. If the base URL is https://api.luv13.ai/v1, don't also put /chat/completions in the setting. The client adds it.
  • Leaving off /v1. Most clients expect the version segment to be part of the base URL.
  • A trailing slash. Some clients handle .../v1/ fine and some don't. Leave it off to be safe.

Example

curl https://api.luv13.ai/v1/models \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LUV13_API_KEY"

If this returns a list of models, your base URL and key are both right.