200-901 Understanding and Using APIs Practice Question
In the OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow, what does the client receive after the user grants authorization?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between what is received immediately after user authorization (the authorization code) versus what is obtained after the subsequent token exchange (access token and optionally a refresh token), causing candidates to mistakenly select the access token.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An authorization code
In the OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow, after the user grants authorization, the authorization server redirects the client with an authorization code in the query string. This code is a temporary credential that the client must exchange for an access token by sending it along with its client credentials to the token endpoint. The authorization code itself is not the final token; it is a one-time-use intermediary that prevents the access token from being exposed to the user agent.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
An authorization code
Why this is correct
The client receives a short-lived authorization code, which it then exchanges at the token endpoint for access and ID tokens. This satisfies the flow's security constraint: tokens are never exposed to the user agent via the front channel, only the single-use code, which is bound to the client and redirect URI.
- ✗
A client secret
Why it's wrong here
The client secret is a credential the client presents when exchanging the authorization code at the token endpoint; it is provisioned at registration, not issued on user grant. Client secrets authenticate confidential clients, and are used in the code exchange itself.
- ✗
A refresh token
Why it's wrong here
A refresh token is issued alongside the access token at the token endpoint, and only when the offline access scope is requested; it is not returned at the authorization response stage. Refresh tokens exist to obtain new access tokens without re-prompting the user.
- ✗
An access token
Why it's wrong here
The authorization code flow returns an authorization code to the redirect URI, which the client then exchanges at the token endpoint for tokens; the access token arrives only after that exchange, so it is not what the client receives on user grant. Access tokens are the artefact issued in the implicit flow.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every 200-901 question from scratch — 975 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-901 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-901 exam.