OAuth 2.0 Authorization Code Flow Diagram
Visualize the OAuth 2.0 authorization code grant between client, server, and resource API.
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This diagram maps the OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow, the most common pattern for delegated access. It shows how a user grants a client application limited access to their data without sharing a password. The key actors are the resource owner, the client application, the authorization server that issues codes and tokens, and the resource server that validates access tokens before returning protected data.
Developers, security architects, and API teams reach for this OAuth flow diagram when designing third-party login, building API integrations, or documenting token exchange for audits. It is ideal for onboarding engineers, clarifying the authorization code grant during design reviews, and explaining how access tokens and refresh tokens move through the system.
Great for
- API integration design docs
- Engineering onboarding
- Security architecture reviews
- Developer documentation
- Auth compliance audits
Frequently asked questions
What is the OAuth 2.0 authorization code flow?+
It is a token-based flow where a user authorizes a client app at the authorization server, which returns a short-lived code. The client exchanges that code for an access token used to call protected APIs.
What are the main components of an OAuth flow diagram?+
The resource owner (user), the client application, the authorization server (with authorization and token endpoints), and the resource server that validates access tokens before serving data.
What is the difference between an access token and a refresh token?+
An access token is short-lived and grants API access. A refresh token is longer-lived and lets the client obtain new access tokens without prompting the user to log in again.
Why use the authorization code grant instead of implicit flow?+
The authorization code grant keeps tokens off the browser URL and supports PKCE, making it far more secure. The implicit flow is now discouraged for most applications.
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