Let’s dive into the world of OAuth2.0 tokens and flows on the Microsoft identity platform!

source: Microsoft

This post will be your guide to understanding OAuth2.0 tokens such as Access, Refresh, and ID tokens, and OAuth2.0 flow types, such as authorization code flow, client credentials flow, implicit grant flow, and On-Behalf-Of flow. Understanding OAuth2.0 tokens and flows is crucial for developers working with apps having global users. It helps to securely authenticate users and provide them access to protected resources. Read on to learn how it works on the Microsoft identity platform!

OAuth2.0 tokens such as Access, Refresh, and ID tokens play a pivotal role in security. They authenticate users and allow client applications to access protected resources on a resource server. Let’s break it down! 👇

• 🔑 Access Token: This is like a digital key. When you sign in to an app, the app gets this key from Microsoft. The key has information about you and the app uses this key to get into certain areas that are locked, like web APIs and other resources that need protection.
• 🔄 Refresh Token: Access tokens don’t last forever, they expire after a while. So, the Microsoft system sometimes gives the app a refresh token along with the access token. When the access token expires, the app uses the refresh token to get a new access token.