Build Secure Authentication System Using Access and Refresh Tokens

📰 Medium · Python

Learn to build a secure authentication system using access and refresh tokens for modern APIs

intermediate Published 28 Jun 2026

Action Steps

Implement access tokens as short-lived JWTs to call protected APIs
Use refresh tokens to obtain new access tokens when they expire
Configure token expiration and renewal mechanisms
Test the authentication system for security and convenience
Integrate the authentication system with existing APIs and applications

Who Needs to Know This

Backend developers and security engineers can benefit from this article to implement secure authentication mechanisms in their applications

Key Insight

💡 Using access and refresh tokens provides a balance between security and convenience for modern API authentication

Key Takeaways

Learn to build a secure authentication system using access and refresh tokens for modern APIs

Full Article

Title: Build Secure Authentication System Using Access and Refresh Tokens

URL Source: https://medium.com/@narru009/build-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170?source=rss------python-5

Published Time: 2026-06-28T13:04:42Z

Markdown Content:
[Sitemap](https://medium.com/sitemap/sitemap.xml)

[Open in app](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.medium.reader&referrer=utm_source%3DmobileNavBar&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Sign up

[Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------)

[](https://medium.com/?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Get app

[Write](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fnew-story&source=---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------new_post_topnav------------------)

[Search](https://medium.com/search?source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------------------------)

Sign up

[Sign in](https://medium.com/m/signin?operation=login&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&source=post_page---top_nav_layout_nav-----------------------global_nav------------------)

![Image 1: Unknown user](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:32:32/1*dmbNkD5D-u45r44go_cf0g.png)

# Build Secure Authentication System Using Access and Refresh Tokens

[![Image 2: Narotam Mishra](https://miro.medium.com/v2/da:true/resize:fill:32:32/0*z313zV8E0ILXTOSZ)](https://medium.com/@narru009?source=post_page---byline--6c389352d170---------------------------------------)

[Narotam Mishra](https://medium.com/@narru009?source=post_page---byline--6c389352d170---------------------------------------)

Follow

13 min read

·

Just now

[](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fvote%2Fp%2F6c389352d170&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&user=Narotam+Mishra&userId=085e8ba9e2e5&source=---header_actions--6c389352d170---------------------clap_footer------------------)

[](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Frepost%2Fp%2F6c389352d170&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&user=Narotam+Mishra&userId=085e8ba9e2e5&source=---header_actions--6c389352d170---------------------repost_header------------------)

[](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F_%2Fbookmark%2Fp%2F6c389352d170&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&source=---header_actions--6c389352d170---------------------bookmark_footer------------------)

[Listen](https://medium.com/m/signin?actionUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2Fplans%3Fdimension%3Dpost_audio_button%26postId%3D6c389352d170&operation=register&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fmedium.com%2F%40narru009%2Fbuild-secure-authentication-system-using-access-and-refresh-tokens-6c389352d170&source=---header_actions--6c389352d170---------------------post_audio_button------------------)

Share

Press enter or click to view image in full size

![Image 3: Secure Authentication System](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:700/1*gaLhfzRe0XSZ5kvpV2WA5g.png)

Modern APIs need authentication that is both secure and convenient. Users should not have to log in again every few minutes, but a stolen token should also not give an attacker long-term access.

A practical solution is to use two tokens:

* **Access token:** Short-lived JWT used to call prote

Read full article → ← Back to Reads

Build Secure Authentication System Using Access and Refresh Tokens

Key Takeaways

Full Article

Related Videos