1# Authentication — Python SDK Quick Reference
2 
3> Condensed from **azure-identity-py**. Full patterns (async,
4> ChainedTokenCredential, token caching, all credential types)
5> in the **azure-identity-py** plugin skill if installed.
6 
7## Install
8```bash
9pip install azure-identity
10```
11 
12## Quick Start
13 
14> **Auth:** `DefaultAzureCredential` is for local development. See [auth-best-practices.md](../auth-best-practices.md) for production patterns.
15 
16```python
17from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential
18credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
19```
20 
21## Best Practices
22- Use DefaultAzureCredential for **local development only** (CLI, PowerShell, VS Code). In production, use ManagedIdentityCredential — see [auth-best-practices.md](../auth-best-practices.md)
23- Never hardcode credentials — use environment variables or managed identity
24- Prefer managed identity in production Azure deployments
25- Use ChainedTokenCredential when you need a custom credential order
26- Close async credentials explicitly or use context managers
27- Set AZURE_CLIENT_ID env var for user-assigned managed identities
28- Exclude unused credentials to speed up authentication
29