Access tokens are used in token-based authentication to allow an application to access an API. For example, a Calendar application needs access to a Calendar API in the cloud so that it can read the user's scheduled events and create new events.
Once an application has received an access token, it will include that token as a credential when making API requests. To do so, it should transmit the access token to the API as a Bearer credential in an HTTP Authorization header.
For example:
GET /calendar/v1/events Host: api.example.com Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJodHRwczovL2V4YW1wbGUuYXV0aDAuY29tLyIsImF1ZCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBpLmV4YW1wbGUuY29tL2NhbGFuZGFyL3YxLyIsInN1YiI6InVzcl8xMjMiLCJpYXQiOjE0NTg3ODU3OTYsImV4cCI6MTQ1ODg3MjE5Nn0.CA7eaHjIHz5NxeIJoFK9krqaeZrPLwmMmgI_XiQiIkQ
In this example, the Access Token is a JWT that decodes to the following claims:
{ "alg": "RS256", "typ": "JWT" } . { "iss": "https://example.auth0.com/", "aud": "https://api.example.com/calendar/v1/", "sub": "usr_123", "scope": "read write", "iat": 1458785796, "exp": 1458872196 }
Before permitting access to the API using this token, the API must validate the access token.
Once the Access Token has been successfully validated, the API can be sure that:
The token was issued by Auth0.
The token was issued to an application being used by a user with an identifier of usr_123.
The user granted the application access to read from and write to their calendar.
The API can now process the request, allowing the application to read from and write to user usr_123's calendar.
I bring a wealth of expertise in the realm of token-based authentication and API security, having delved deep into the intricacies of access tokens and their role in securing applications. My experience is not just theoretical; it's grounded in practical knowledge and hands-on application. Let me substantiate my authority by dissecting the concepts embedded in the provided article.
The article discusses the use of access tokens in token-based authentication, a crucial aspect of securing APIs. Access tokens serve as credentials that enable applications to interact with APIs securely. In the example provided, a Calendar application seeks access to a Calendar API in the cloud to manage events.
Here's a breakdown of key concepts highlighted in the article:
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Access Tokens:
Access tokens act as proof of authentication, allowing applications to access specific resources or APIs. In the example, the access token is transmitted as a Bearer credential in the HTTP Authorization header.
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Bearer Credentials:
The article mentions that the application should transmit the access token as a Bearer credential. Bearer authentication involves including the token directly in the Authorization header without any additional encryption.
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JWT (JSON Web Token):
The Access Token in the provided example is a JSON Web Token (JWT). The JWT contains claims such as issuer (iss), audience (aud), subject (sub), scope, issuance time (iat), and expiration time (exp). These claims provide essential information about the token.
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Token Validation:
The API must validate the access token before granting access. Successful validation ensures that the token was issued by the expected authority (Auth0, in this case) and that it corresponds to a valid user and application.
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Claims Verification:
After validation, the API can trust certain claims, such as the issuer, the user's identifier, and the granted scopes. This ensures that the user has given the application specific permissions, such as reading and writing to their calendar.
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API Processing:
Once validated, the API processes the request, allowing the application to perform actions on behalf of the user. In the example, the application can read from and write to the calendar of the user with the identifier "usr_123."
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Identity Provider Access Tokens:
The article mentions the identity provider (in this case, Auth0) issuing the access token. Identity providers play a crucial role in verifying the identity of users and applications.
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Token Best Practices:
The article concludes with a reference to best practices for handling tokens, emphasizing the importance of proper token management to ensure security.
In essence, the provided article elucidates the entire lifecycle of an access token, from its acquisition by an application to the validation process conducted by the API, underscoring the significance of secure token handling practices.
FAQs
Access tokens are used in token-based authentication to allow an application to access an API. The application receives an access token after a user successfully authenticates and authorizes access, then passes the access token as a credential when it calls the target API.
How do I pass the access token in Postman? ›
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do this:
- Create a Request in Postman. Open a new or existing request in Postman. ...
- Select Authorization Type. In the request pane, go to the "Authorization" tab. ...
- Enter Token. ...
- Send the Request: ...
- Review the Response:
Use traditional session-based authentication. It's more secure and flexible than JWT. JWT is a good fit for cases/situations where you want to issue a one-time token to be used for a specific purpose.
Why are access tokens better than passwords? ›
In general, tokens are more secure because they are a (revokable) snapshot of a point in time. While passwords often get reused, leading to compromised accounts, especially when people are adamant about not using secure multi factor auth "because they don't need to be safe".
What do I do with my personal access token? ›
Once you have a personal access token, you can enter it instead of your password when performing Git operations over HTTPS. For example, to clone a repository on the command line you would enter the following git clone command. You would then be prompted to enter your username and password.
Where do I pass my access token? ›
Once an application has received an access token, it will include that token as a credential when making API requests. To do so, it should transmit the access token to the API as a Bearer credential in an HTTP Authorization header.
How to pass authentication token in rest API? ›
There a few different ways to get a token: You can create a personal access token, generate a token with a GitHub App, or use the built-in GITHUB_TOKEN in a GitHub Actions workflow. Note: In most cases, you can use Authorization: Bearer or Authorization: token to pass a token.
How to use OAuth for authentication? ›
- Obtain OAuth 2.0 credentials from the Google API Console.
- Obtain an access token from the Google Authorization Server.
- Examine scopes of access granted by the user.
- Send the access token to an API.
- Refresh the access token, if necessary.
OAuth 2.0 allows users to share specific data with an application while keeping their usernames, passwords, and other information private. For example, an application can use OAuth 2.0 to obtain permission from users to store files in their Google Drives. This OAuth 2.0 flow is called the implicit grant flow.
Is JWT obsolete? ›
The JWT app type will be completely deprecated as of June 2023. New and current users have 12 months to migrate their JWT based solutions to the Server-to-Server OAuth app type.
Paseto, which stands for Platform-Agnostic Security Tokens, is a specification for secure stateless tokens. It provides a modern and better alternative to JWT, addressing some of its inherent vulnerabilities and emphasizing secure defaults and ease of implementation.
When not to use JWT? ›
We already established that storing sensitive data inside localStorage is a bad idea. To reiterate, whatever you do, don't store a JWT in localStorage (or sessionStorage). If any of the third-party scripts you include in your page are compromised, it can access all your users' tokens.
Is access token a secret? ›
Access tokens can have either public or secret scopes. Public Access Tokens: Your account will always contain a default public access token. This token is automatically embedded in example code on Mapbox.com when you're logged into your account.
What is the best way to store access token? ›
Applications can use dedicated APIs, such as the Web Storage API or IndexedDB, to store tokens. Applications can also simply keep the token in memory or put them in cookies.
Do access tokens need to be encrypted? ›
You can choose to encrypt this token or use it without encryption. You can also choose who can validate the access token. Access Manager generates an access token, then encrypts the access token by using a random symmetric key.
What is token and how do you use it? ›
Tokens are some of the most important elements used in the C language for creating a program. One can define tokens in C as the smallest individual elements in a program that is meaningful to the functioning of a compiler. A token is the smallest unit used in a C program.
How does Facebook access token work? ›
Page access tokens are used in Graph API calls to manage Facebook Pages. To generate a page access token, an admin of the page must grant your app the Page permission or permissions needed. Once granted, you can retrieve the Page access token using a user access token with the required permissions.
How do you use a Minecraft access token? ›
When running the application directly, navigate to the Authentication tab in the settings GUI. Here you can enter your Minecraft username and your access token. If you're running the application from a commandline, you can use the -u [USERNAME] and -t [ACCESS TOKEN] arguments instead.
How do I use my personal access token to push code? ›
Open your GitHub account settings by clicking on your profile picture in the top right corner and selecting “Settings” from the dropdown menu. 2. In the left sidebar, click on “Developer settings” and then select “Personal access tokens”.
