Which term describes a string or credential passed to an API to prove the client is allowed to access a resource?

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An API token is a string or credential used to authenticate and authorize a client application when accessing a network device or service programmatically. In Cisco automation and programmability contexts, tokens are passed in API requests, often in HTTP headers, to prove the client has permission to perform actions or retrieve data. This mechanism ensures secure communication between the client and the network device, preventing unauthorized access. The decision to use a token for API access is based on security best practices. Tokens are preferred over static credentials because they can be time-limited, scoped to specific permissions, and revoked if compromised. Cisco devices supporting RESTCONF or NETCONF APIs typically require tokens or similar credentials to validate client requests, ensuring that only authorized automation scripts or applications can modify configurations or query operational data. A common exam trap is confusing tokens with other networking terms like metric, lease, or tuple, which have distinct meanings unrelated to API authorization. Understanding that a token specifically serves as an authorization credential in API contexts helps avoid this confusion. Practically, network engineers use tokens to automate tasks securely, enabling scalable and controlled network management without exposing sensitive passwords directly in scripts.

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