OAuth Tokens
OAuth tokens are secure credentials used in the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework to grant limited access to protected resources, such as APIs, without sharing user passwords. They are issued by an authorization server after a user grants permission and are used by client applications to authenticate requests. Tokens can be access tokens for short-term API access or refresh tokens for obtaining new access tokens without re-authentication.
Developers should learn OAuth tokens when building applications that need to securely access user data from third-party services, such as social media platforms or cloud APIs, to avoid handling sensitive passwords directly. They are essential for implementing single sign-on (SSO), delegated authorization in microservices, and securing mobile or web app integrations, ensuring compliance with modern security standards.