oppfriskningstokenet

An oppfriskningstokenet, often translated as a refresh token, is a type of security token used in authentication protocols like OAuth 2.0. Its primary purpose is to obtain new access tokens without requiring the user to re-authenticate with their credentials. When a user logs in, an authorization server typically issues both an access token and a refresh token. The access token is short-lived and grants permission to access specific resources. The refresh token, on the other hand, is longer-lived and is used to request new access tokens when the current one expires.

The process works as follows: a client application uses an access token to make requests to a resource server. When the access token expires, the client can present the refresh token to the authorization server. The authorization server then verifies the refresh token and, if valid, issues a new access token. This mechanism enhances user experience by allowing continuous access to resources without frequent login prompts. It also improves security by minimizing the exposure of long-lived credentials. However, refresh tokens themselves represent a security risk if compromised, so they are typically stored securely and handled with care by client applications. Revocation mechanisms are also crucial to invalidate refresh tokens if they are suspected of being misused.