# Authentication

The Violet API uses a **JWT-based authentication system** with refresh tokens to provide secure, long-term access to your applications. This system ensures your credentials remain secure while providing seamless API access.

#### Key Concepts

* **App Credentials**: `X-Violet-App-Id` and `X-Violet-App-Secret` identify your application
* **Authentication Token**: Short-lived JWT token (24 hours) for API requests
* **Refresh Token**: Long-lived token for obtaining new authentication tokens
* **Environment Separation**: Different credentials for test and production environments

{% @mermaid/diagram content="sequenceDiagram
participant App as Your Application
participant Violet as Violet API
participant Dashboard as Channel Dashboard

```
Note over App,Dashboard: Initial Setup
App->>Dashboard: Create account & application
Dashboard-->>App: App ID & App Secret

Note over App,Violet: Initial Authentication
App->>Violet: POST /login<br/>(credentials + headers)
Violet-->>App: Authentication Token + Refresh Token

Note over App,Violet: API Requests
App->>Violet: API Request<br/>(with auth token)
Violet-->>App: API Response

Note over App,Violet: Token Refresh (before expiry)
App->>Violet: GET /auth/token<br/>(with refresh token)
Violet-->>App: New Authentication Token

Note over App,Violet: Continued API Usage
App->>Violet: API Request<br/>(with new auth token)
Violet-->>App: API Response" %}
```


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