diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 460a5e8..05c3229 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ CAPTCHA_PRIVATE_KEY = 'your-secret-key'
 Import the decorator and apply it to any Django view:
 
 ```python
-from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_required
+from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_protected
 
-@hoptcha_required()
+@hoptcha_protected()
 def my_view(request):
     return JsonResponse({'success': True})
 ```
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ def ip_and_student_id(request):
 Apply it like this:
 
 ```python
-@hoptcha_required(threshold=5, timeout=300, key_func=ip_and_student_id)
+@hoptcha_protected(threshold=5, timeout=300, key=ip_and_student_id)
 def send_reset_code(request):
     ...
 ```
@@ -169,15 +169,15 @@ This package works seamlessly with [`django-ratelimit`](https://pypi.org/project
 
 ```python
 from ratelimit.decorators import ratelimit
-from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_required
+from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_protected
 
 @ratelimit(key='ip', rate='15/m', method='POST', block=True)
-@hoptcha_required(threshold=5, timeout=300)
+@hoptcha_protected(threshold=5, timeout=300)
 def secure_view(request):
     ...
 ```
 
-The `@ratelimit` decorator enforces strict rate limits while `@hoptcha_required` provides a soft CAPTCHA fallback.
+The `@ratelimit` decorator enforces strict rate limits while `@hoptcha_protected` provides a soft CAPTCHA fallback.
 
 ### Custom CAPTCHA UI Rendering
 
@@ -195,11 +195,11 @@ hoptchaPost('/endpoint', payload, onSuccess, onError, function renderCustom(url,
 
 ## 🔧 Customization
 
-| Parameter   | Description                                           | Default       |
-| ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------- |
-| `threshold` | Number of allowed attempts before CAPTCHA is required | `5`           |
-| `timeout`   | Time in seconds to reset attempt count                | `300` (5 min) |
-| `key_func`  | Function to identify requestor (IP, user ID, etc.)    | IP address    |
+| Parameter   | Description                                                  | Default       |
+|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|
+| `threshold` | Number of allowed attempts before CAPTCHA is required        | `5`           |
+| `timeout`   | Time in seconds to reset attempt count                       | `300` (5 min) |
+| `key`       | Function or string to identify requestor (IP, user ID, etc.) | `ip`          |
 
 
 ---
diff --git a/django_hoptcha/decorators.py b/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
index c7ec2c0..0208a31 100644
--- a/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
+++ b/django_hoptcha/decorators.py
@@ -28,20 +28,26 @@ from django.http import JsonResponse
 from .validators import verify_token
 from .settings import GENERATE_URL, PUBLIC_KEY
 
-def default_key_func(request):
-    return request.META.get('REMOTE_ADDR', 'unknown-ip')
+def get_builtin_key_func(name):
+    if name == 'ip':
+        return lambda request: request.META.get('REMOTE_ADDR', 'unknown-ip')
+    raise ValueError(f"Unknown built-in key: '{name}'")
 
-def hoptcha_required(threshold=5, timeout=300, key_func=default_key_func):
+def hoptcha_protected(threshold=5, timeout=300, key='ip'):
     """
     Decorator that applies CAPTCHA verification after `threshold` failed attempts,
-    tracked via cache using a customizable `key_func`.
+    tracked via cache using a customizable key. The `key` can be:
+      - a string like 'ip' to use a built-in method
+      - a callable that accepts a Django request and returns a string
     """
 
+    key_func = get_builtin_key_func(key) if isinstance(key, str) else key
+
     def decorator(view_func):
         @wraps(view_func)
         def _wrapped_view(request, *args, **kwargs):
-            key = key_func(request)
-            cache_key = f"hoptcha-attempts:{key}"
+            key_val = key_func(request)
+            cache_key = f"hoptcha-attempts:{key_val}"
             attempts = cache.get(cache_key, 0)
 
             if attempts >= threshold:
@@ -53,7 +59,6 @@ def hoptcha_required(threshold=5, timeout=300, key_func=default_key_func):
                         "key": PUBLIC_KEY
                     }, status=400)
 
-            # Increment and store attempt count unless the view says otherwise
             cache.set(cache_key, attempts + 1, timeout=timeout)
             return view_func(request, *args, **kwargs)
         return _wrapped_view
diff --git a/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py b/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
index c262c04..ffed32e 100644
--- a/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
+++ b/example/demoapp/demoapp/views.py
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@ SOFTWARE.
 from django.http import JsonResponse
 from django.shortcuts import render
 from django.views.decorators.csrf import csrf_exempt
-from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_required
+from django_hoptcha.decorators import hoptcha_protected
 
 @csrf_exempt
-@hoptcha_required(threshold=3, timeout=300)
+@hoptcha_protected(threshold=3, timeout=300)
 def protected_form_submit(request):
     name = request.POST.get("name")
     if not name: