Creating New Secret Value Type
A static secret's value is stored in one of three formats, chosen with the tabs at the top
of the New Secret overlay.
Text, Key/value and JSON, with the secret Type and Maximum Versions above
Text
A single free-form value, stored exactly as typed.
Use it for anything consumed as one opaque blob: an API key, a connection string, a license
key, a certificate body, a block of notes.
The whole value copies as one unit from the item preview.
Key/value
A set of named fields, entered as pairs.
Use it when the secret is really several related values — a host, a port, a username and a
password that belong together.
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Field-level copy | Each field has its own copy control, so you can take just the password |
| Copy All | Copies the whole set at once |
| Readable preview | Fields are labelled rather than running together |
Key/value is stored as structured data, so it round-trips cleanly to the API and the console.
JSON
A raw JSON document you type or paste directly.
Use it when the structure is more than flat pairs — nested objects, arrays, a service-account
file — or when something downstream expects a specific JSON shape you need to control exactly.
Choosing JSON or Key/value reveals the value field by default, since structured
content cannot be edited blind. Text keeps it masked until you choose to reveal it.
The editor validates the JSON before saving. An invalid document is reported rather than
stored.
Choosing
| Use | When |
|---|---|
| Text | One value, consumed whole |
| Key/value | Several named values, consumed separately |
| JSON | Nested structure, or a shape something downstream depends on |
If unsure, ask whether anyone will need one part of this secret without the rest. If yes,
Key/value. If the structure is deeper than one level, JSON.
Secret Type
Above the format tabs, Type classifies the secret — Generic by default. Select it to
choose a more specific type where one applies. The type affects how the item is presented and
how other Akeyless components interpret it.
Maximum Versions
How many historical versions the vault keeps, defaulting to 100. Each save creates a
version; lowering the limit discards the oldest beyond the new value.
Changing format later
Switching an existing secret between formats rewrites the value. Copy anything you need
before changing it.
Related
Updated 8 days ago