Quickstart

Cognau answers one question: is a live human present right now? It is not document KYC. There is no ID upload, no name, no address. A short camera check runs a few randomized challenges and returns a pass or fail.

The fastest path needs no integration at all.

1. Create a verification link

From the dashboard, open Links and create one. Or from your terminal:

curl -X POST https://machine.cognau.com/api/v1/cockpit/verification-links \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $COGNAU_TEST_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"label": "first test", "maxUses": 1}'

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://verify.cognau.com/?link=cgn_vl_…",
    "prefix": "cgn_vl_ab12cd34",
    "maxUses": 1,
    "expiresAt": 1760000000000
  }
}

The URL is returned once. Only its hash is stored, so it cannot be shown again. Copy it now.

2. Open it

Open the URL in a browser and complete the check. With a test key nothing real happens: no detection runs, no video frame is stored, and the verdict is simulated. It costs nothing.

3. Read the result

Poll from your backend, or receive a webhook:

curl https://machine.cognau.com/api/v1/cockpit/sessions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $COGNAU_TEST_KEY"

Try it right here

Paste a test key and send the request. It runs against the real API from your browser.

That is the whole loop. When you are ready to put this inside your own product, there are two routes:

• Embed the widget in an iframe on your page.
• Create sessions from your backend with your secret key, which is the production shape.

Test and live

Every key carries its environment in the string:

Prefix	Behaviour
cgn_sk_test_…	Sandbox. No detection, no stored video, simulated verdict, free.
cgn_sk_live_…	Real verification. Billed per check.

Build against test until your integration is done. The wire format is identical, so nothing changes when you switch except the key.