Lesson 4. How to get an OAuth token

In this lesson, you will learn:

  1. How to get an OAuth token manually
  2. Why can the OAuth token stop working
  3. What's next
  4. Useful links
  5. Questions

In this lesson, you will learn more about OAuth tokens, how to get them and use them.

From the previous lessons, you already know that Yandex Direct API uses OAuth authorization. Remember that you must specify your OAuth token in every API request. The token encrypts information both about the app and user. The token is used in order to determine, on behalf of which Yandex Direct user the app executes the query; whether the user has authorized the app to access their data in Yandex Direct; whether the user is authorized to access the requested ads.

Hence, when accessing Yandex Direct via the API, you do not need to pass the user account password. It is sufficient to pass the OAuth token: it makes the interaction with the Yandex Direct API more secure. However, it is important to keep in mind that you need to get a separate token for each user of your app.

At the initial stages of app development, you only need to manually obtain a so-called debugging token. Afterwards, when you roll out your app into production, you should implement a user-friendly way to get a token from within the app just on button click: the user clicks Allow in the Yandex OAuth web interface, and then Yandex OAuth returns the token to the app automatically.

Please note that the manually obtained token is in no way different from the automatically obtained one. With the token you can manage the user's real advertising materials, regardless of how the token was obtained.

How to get an OAuth token manually

In a previous lesson, you registered your app on Yandex OAuth, putting the development URL in the Callback URI #1 field. If you did not do this (i.e., left the field blank or set a different value, go to Yandex OAuth (https://oauth.yandex.com) and edit app settings: select the Web services checkbox, click the Set URL for development link, and save the changes. Now you can manually get a token for the test user.

As a test user, you can use the same developer account you have used to register your app and apply for access. We are focusing on this very option in this course.

To get a token manually, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to Yandex with your username.
  2. Follow link

    https://oauth.yandex.com/authorize?response_type=token&client_id=APP_IDENTIFIER

    (put your app identifier instead of APP_ID).

  3. On the page that opens, click Allow.


  4. Yandex OAuth redirects you to the page displaying the token. The token is also added to the URL shown in the address bar. Copy the token to use it in your API requests.


Attention.
  • Do not share the token with anyone: one can use it to access the user's data in Yandex Direct.
  • You can create a separate test user account (or multiple accounts). For a new user, you must create an account in the Yandex Direct web interface, having selected the country and payment currency, and accepted the user agreement in the API section. To get a token for the user, log in to Yandex using their username and repeat the above procedure.
Tip. If you were not able to get a token for some reason, use the detailed instruction.

Why can the OAuth token stop working

The token may expire over time, so you may need to get a new one.

All the user's tokens are revoked if:

  • the user has changed their Yandex password
  • the user clicked the Log out of all computers link.

A token issued for a specific app is revoked if:

  • the user revoked the app access to their data (this feature is available in the Yandex Passport web interface)
  • the app developer changed the access rights for their app
  • the token has expired.

For the full list of situations when Yandex OAuth revokes tokens, see the Yandex OAuth documentation.

What's next

So you have received a token you can use to make the API requests. The last preparation stage is ahead: create and configure Sandbox, a test environment for app debugging. Then we will proceed directly to making API requests.

Questions

  1. What is the difference between a debugging token and a token obtained automatically?
    False.
    False.
    True.
  2. Can the user's token stop working?
    False.
    True.
    False.
  3. What conditions have to be met to obtain a debugging token?
    False.
    False.
    True.
    False.