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Machine Token vs User Token

In a Spring Boot-based web application:

Question:

What is the difference between a Machine Token and a User Token? Where and why would each be used?

Machine Token

1: Used by applications or services (machines), not by real people.

Example: When one backend service talks to another backend service.

2: It usually has fixed permissions and does not represent a specific user.

User Token

1: Used by real people (users) when they log in.

Example: When a user logs in to your web app and gets a token to use APIs.

2: It carries the user's identity and permissions.

Where and Why?

- Use Machine Token for automated, system-to-system communication (e.g., scheduled jobs, microservices).

- Use User Token for user-driven actions (e.g., accessing their data, performing tasks as themselves).

Easy Way to Remember:

1: Machine Token = Robot/Service

2: User Token = Person/Human

Machine tokens are for machines, user tokens are for people.