Test mode (`pk_test_*` keys)

The API recognises a key that starts with pk_test_ as a test key and says so on every response. That is all test mode does today: a test key reaches the same data, the same workers and the same Stripe account as a live key.

Current state. Keys created in the dashboard or with POST /me/api-keys are always pk_ followed by 40 hex characters; there is no way to create a pk_test_ key yourself. Under any key, POST /checkout/* uses the platform's Stripe account, which is live in production — a checkout completed there is a real charge. Do not use real cards when testing checkout.

Key format and mode

Key	Mode reported	Where it comes from
`pk_<40 hex>`	live	Every key you create (dashboard, `POST /me/api-keys`).
`pk_test_<hex>`	test	Not issued to accounts today.

Detecting mode on a response

Every authenticated response carries:

Dcast-Key-Mode: live   (or)   Dcast-Key-Mode: test

And GET /me returns the same value in data.mode:

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "keyId":   "...",
    "keyName": "my-key",
    "mode":    "live",
    ...
  }
}

What a test key changes today

Aspect	Behaviour under a `pk_test_` key
Authentication, scopes, rate limits	Same as a live key.
Idempotency-Key	Honoured; the cache is per key, so it never collides with another key.
Stripe checkout (`POST /checkout/*`)	Same platform Stripe account as a live key — live in production.
Uploads, streams, restreams, rooms	Same routes, same data, same workers as a live key.
Webhooks	Same delivery. The envelope `livemode` field comes from the server environment, not from the key, so production deliveries say `livemode: true`.

Recommended practice

Use a separate DCAST account for development and CI, with its own keys, videos and webhook endpoints.
Register a different webhook URL for that account so test events never reach your production receiver.
Read data.mode from GET /me (or the Dcast-Key-Mode header) in your health check if you want to assert which key an environment is using.

Not implemented

Issuing pk_test_ keys to accounts, Stripe test mode under test keys, a sandbox for uploads and streams, and livemode tied to the key are not implemented. See Roadmap.