> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tonic.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tonic.ai/textual/tonic-textual-api/textual-python-sdk/textual-api-instantiate-sdk.md).

# Instantiating the SDK client

Whenever you call the Textual Python SDK, you first instantiate the SDK client.

To redact individual files, or to work with Textual datasets, you instantiate `TonicTextual`.

## Instantiating when the API key is already configured <a href="#api-key-configured" id="api-key-configured"></a>

If the API key is configured as the value of the [environment variable](/textual/textual-install-administer/configuring-textual/textual-env-var-configure.md) `TONIC_TEXTUAL_API_KEY`, then you do not need to provide the API key when you instantiate the SDK client.

For Textual datasets, or to use the `redact` method:

```python
from tonic_textual.redact_api import TextualNer
# The default URL is https://textual.tonic.ai (Textual Cloud)
# If you host Textual, provide your Textual URL
textual = TextualNer()
```

## Instantiating when the API key is not configured <a href="#api-key-not-configured" id="api-key-not-configured"></a>

If the API key is not configured as the value of the [environment variable](/textual/textual-install-administer/configuring-textual/textual-env-var-configure.md) `TONIC_TEXTUAL_API_KEY`, then you must include the API key in the request.

For Textual datasets, or to use the `redact` method:

```python
from tonic_textual.redact_api import TonicTextual
api_key = "your-tonic-textual-api-key"
# The default URL is https://textual.tonic.ai (Textual Cloud)
# If you host Textual, provide your Textual URL
textual = TonicTextual(api_key=api_key)
```


---

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