# Token-based authentication ## Introduction **Token-based** authentication allows users to verify their identity with a third-party server using a **token**. This is a more secure approach than [basic authentication](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder/building-your-own-connector/3-authentication-methods/supported-authentication-types/basic-authentication) because username and password credentials are never passed in API requests. ## How it works Token-based authentication works by authenticating with a token that you already have available - perhaps it was given to you by a third-party application provider, or you have generated a token from the API - it doesn't matter how you obtain the token. {% hint style="info" %} If you'd like more detailed information about how **Token** authentication works, there's some great background information on the [Postman website](https://learning.postman.com/docs/sending-requests/authorization/authorization-types/#bearer-token). {% endhint %} ## User experience of token authentication When a Patchworks user [adds an instance of a connector](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/connectors-and-instances/working-with-instances/adding-an-instance) and chooses to authenticate with token-based authentication, they will see something similar to the example below:

## Token-based authentication examples It can be useful to compare how existing connectors have been configured for **token-based authentication**. The Patchworks marketplace includes many connectors that are configured to use this authentication type - a few examples are linked below:

You can install any of these for comparison. ## Related information * [Configuring token-based authentication](https://doc.wearepatchworks.com/product-documentation/developer-hub/connector-builder/building-your-own-connector/3-authentication-methods/supported-authentication-types/token-based-authentication/configuring-token-based-authentication)