An AccessKey pair is similar to a pair of username and password. An AccessKey pair is used to call an API operation of an Alibaba Cloud service, whereas the username and password are used to log on to a console. If you do not need to call an API operation, an AccessKey pair is not required.
Background information
With an AccessKey pair, you can make an API request or use a cloud service SDK to manage your resources. An AccessKey pair consists of an AccessKey ID and an AccessKey secret.
The AccessKey ID is used to identify a user.
The AccessKey secret is used to verify the identity of the user. You must keep your AccessKey secret confidential.
If the AccessKey pair of your Alibaba Cloud account is leaked, your resources are exposed to potential risks. We recommend that you use the AccessKey pair of a Resource Access Management (RAM) user to call operations. This prevents the AccessKey pair of your Alibaba Cloud account from being leaked.
For more information, see Create an AccessKey pair.