How does an access token differ from a refresh token?
sobes.tech AI
Answer from AI
Access token and refresh token are two different types of tokens used for authentication and authorization in systems with OAuth 2.0 and similar protocols.
-
Access token is a short-lived token used by the client to access protected resources (API). It usually has a short lifespan (e.g., a few minutes or hours). Its purpose is to confirm the user's access rights.
-
Refresh token is a token with a longer lifespan, used to obtain a new access token without re-authenticating the user. It does not provide direct access to resources but is used to refresh the access token.
Example scenario:
- The user logs in, receives an access token and a refresh token.
- The client uses the access token to make requests to the API.
- When the access token expires, the client sends the refresh token to the authorization server to get a new access token.
This enhances security because the access token has a short lifespan, and the refresh token can be stored more securely and used to refresh the session without re-entering the password.