Authorization Tokens

Auth Token

Auth Tokens (often stylized as authtoken) are set as HTTP cookies in a user's web browser after authentication. MindTouch Auth Tokens are generated by a MindTouch site and are cryptographically signed to prevent tampering.

Browser API Token

Browser API Tokens are sent from a website, web application, or simply anything that runs in a web browser to the MindTouch API. Implementations with Browser API Tokens are written in web browser executable languages such as JavaScript.

Normally, web browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox do not allow JavaScript applications running on one website to access data from another. Browsers block cross-origin requests and responses due to the security issues it can cause, especially if one website's JavaScript application uses the cookies of another website to impersonate a user's identity for nefarious purposes. However, a website can declare which third party websites can securely access its data using Cross Origin Resource Sharing (CORS). Browser API Tokens allow developers to implement CORS in a safe and secure manner. In addition to CORS, Browser API Tokens also allow same origin API access from JavaScript executed in content on a MindTouch site to the same site's API.

A Browser API Token has no specific user permissions for the API to determine which operations are or aren't allowed. User permissions are determined by the web browser session's authtoken HTTP cookie. If the user accessing the integration has not signed in to the MindTouch site, then the API considers the user to be an anonymous user

Server API Token

Server API Tokens are used to create integrations between a server application, IoT, bots, or anything that can communicate over HTTPS, and the MindTouch API. Implementations with Server API Tokens are typically written in server executed languages such as C#, Java, JavaScript (Node.js), Python, Go, and PHP. The token consists of a key and a secret which are used to sign API requests, allowing valid requests through and rejecting invalid or expired requests. The token secret is meant to be kept in a secure place, and should never be shared or sent across the internet in plain text.

OAuth API Token

While Server API Tokens provide a developer with the ability to connect applications and devices to the MindTouch API with unlimited permissions, under some scenarios this level of access control is inappropriate for a developer. Examples include integrations between the MindTouch API and a third-party service, on behalf of the organization deploying MindTouch. By implementing OAuth 2.0 authorization flows, OAuth API Tokens allow MindTouch users to authorize which applications or devices can access their MindTouch user identities and allowed operations such as reading and writing content. OAuth API Tokens can be safely given to third-party developers, without the concern of handing over MindTouch site administrator access.