What Is a Refresh Token (and How Does It Work)?

Refresh tokens are long-lived tokens that allow users to obtain new access tokens without re-authenticating. They provide continuous access, enhance security, and improve the user experience. Refresh tokens should be securely stored and implemented with a token rotation policy and revocation mechanism. They are useful for maintaining user sessions, performing background processes, reducing latency, increasing security, enabling third-party access, and supporting federated identity. Overall, refresh tokens are essential for secure and efficient authentication processes.