Have you encountered the concept of token when working with external systems? Why is a token needed?

Token is a unique identifier or key used for authentication and authorization when interacting with external systems.

Why is a token needed:

• Secure access. The token confirms that the request comes from an authorized user or system.
• Session management. Tokens allow maintaining session state without constantly transmitting login and password.
• Access rights restriction. A token can contain information about access rights, which allows limiting actions.
• Ease of integration. Tokens are often used in APIs to simplify and standardize the authentication process.

Example: when working with REST API, a Bearer Token is often used in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9...

Thus, a token provides a secure and convenient way to interact with external services.