What is the difference between API token and API key

[Sunilkumar k]

What are the difference between API keys and API Tokens

[Hector Vazquez · Accepted solution]

If you are asking about the Atlassian cloud ecosystem (copied from the Atlassian Support site):

- API keys: API keys allow you to manage your organization via the admin APIs. You can update organization settings with the organizations REST API and manage user accounts with the user management REST API. To make requests to the API with the client of your choice, create an API key.

- API Tokens: API tokens allow a user to authenticate with cloud apps and bypass two-step verification and SSO and retrieve data from the instance through REST APIs. You can control each user tokens in the "managed account" section.

In summary, API Keys are used to access the organization data and Tokens to access data from the products where the user has access.

[Radek Dostál · Accepted solution]

None really. Just different terminology. Unless somebody specifically designs their tools to use both, use both terms, and suggest they work differently or serve a different purpose, then it doesn't matter whether you call it a key or a token. (Although token is more common, because it is, well, a token. I'd associate a key with certificates, cryptography. So from my point of view a token is more appropriate, but in reality you will come across both terms.)