OpenAI's API is a powerful tool for building AI-powered applications. However, using the API directly in a client-side application, like a React app, can expose your API key to potential attackers. To ensure the security of your API key, it is recommended to route requests through a backend server, as outlined in OpenAI's Best Practices for API Key Safety.

APIs are essential in modern web development as they enable developers to integrate external data into their applications. However, when using APIs, developers must be cautious when handling API keys. These keys authenticate requests to an API, and if they fall into the wrong hands, they can be used to make unauthorized requests and potentially incur costs or expose sensitive data.