Random API Token Generator
Generate secure API tokens with symbols for enhanced security
Our API token generator creates cryptographically secure tokens with alphanumeric characters and symbols for maximum security. Unlike API keys which use only alphanumeric characters, API tokens include special characters (@, #, $, %, ^, +, /, =) providing higher entropy per character. Perfect for authentication tokens, bearer tokens, access tokens, and secure random strings requiring maximum unpredictability. Generate tokens from 64-bit to 2048-bit with automatic Base64 encoding and symbol injection. All tokens use industry-standard CSPRNG to ensure cryptographic randomness. Export your API tokens as text, CSV, or JSON. Visit our API documentation for programmatic generation.
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API Tokens vs API Keys: What's the Difference?
API Tokens include special characters (@, #, $, %, ^, +, /, =) for higher entropy, while API Keys use only alphanumeric characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9). Tokens provide approximately 6.5 bits of entropy per character compared to 5.95 bits for alphanumeric keys.
Use API tokens when maximum security is required and the system supports special characters. Use API keys when compatibility with URLs, filenames, or restrictive systems is needed. Both use the same cryptographically secure random generation source.
API Token Generator Configuration Options
Bit Length Selection (64-2048 bits)
- 64-bit: 11 characters, ~64 bits entropy. Minimum for development/testing.
- 128-bit: 22 characters, ~128 bits entropy. Recommended minimum for production.
- 256-bit: 43 characters, ~256 bits entropy. High security for financial/healthcare APIs.
- 512-bit: 86 characters, ~512 bits entropy. Very high security for sensitive operations.
- 1024-bit: 171 characters, ~1024 bits entropy. Maximum security for critical infrastructure.
- 2048-bit: 342 characters, ~2048 bits entropy. Paranoid security or compliance requirements.
Custom Token Prefixes
- tok_ - General purpose tokens
- Bearer_ - OAuth/HTTP bearer tokens
- access_ - Access tokens
- refresh_ - Refresh tokens
- temp_ - Temporary/session tokens
Enhanced Security with Symbols
- Character Set: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, @, #, $, %, ^, +, /, =
- Entropy: ~6.5 bits per character (vs 5.95 for alphanumeric)
- Security Benefit: 10% more secure per character
- Trade-off: May require URL encoding in some contexts
Cryptographic Generation Standards
- CSPRNG Source: Operating system entropy pool
- Standards: NIST SP 800-90A/B/C compliant
- Base Encoding: RFC 4648 Base64 with symbol injection
- Quality: Passes NIST randomness test suite
How to Generate Secure API Tokens
[STEP 1] Select Bit Length
Choose token strength: 128-bit minimum for production, 256-bit for high security, 512+ for critical systems.
[STEP 1] Add Optional Prefix
Include a prefix like "tok_" or "Bearer_" to identify token type and prevent accidental misuse.
[STEP 1] Generate & Store Securely
Click generate, copy your token, and store it securely. Treat tokens like passwords - never commit to version control.
API Token Security Best Practices
- _ Use 256-bit minimum for production APIs handling sensitive data
- _ Store tokens encrypted at rest (AES-256 or equivalent)
- _ Never log tokens in plain text - hash or redact in logs
- _ Implement token rotation and expiration policies
- _ Use HTTPS exclusively to prevent token interception
- _ Revoke tokens immediately upon suspected compromise
Technical Implementation
API tokens are generated using PHP's cryptographically secure random_bytes() function, then Base64-encoded and enhanced with symbol substitution for maximum entropy density.
// Token generation process
$bytes = random_bytes($bitLength / 8);
$base64 = base64_encode($bytes);
// Inject symbols for higher entropy
$token = strtr($base64, [
'A' => '@', 'E' => '#', 'I' => '$',
'O' => '%', 'U' => '^'
]);
// Entropy calculation
$entropy_bits = $bitLength; // Direct from source bytes