# Use tokens (/en/realtime-media/broadcast-streaming/build/authenticate-users/use-tokens/electron)

> For AI agents: see the complete documentation index at [llms.txt](/llms.txt).

To protect your business, it is best practice to authenticate every client that joins a channel. This guide explains how to fetch an authentication token from your token server, use it to join a channel, and renew the token when it expires.

## Understand the tech [#understand-the-tech]

      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
    When a user attempts to connect to an Agora channel, your app retrieves a token from the token server in your security infrastructure. Your app then sends this token to Agora SDRTN® for authentication. Agora SDRTN® reads the information stored in the token to validate the request.

    The following figure shows the call flow you implement to create step-up-authentication with Agora Broadcast Streaming:

    **Token authentication flow**

    ![token authentication flow](https://assets-docs.agora.io/images/video-sdk/token-authentication.svg)

    ## Prerequisites [#prerequisites-5]

    Before starting, ensure that you have:

    * Implemented the [Quickstart](../../index) in your project.

    * Deployed a token server using either of the following guides:

      * [Deploy a token server](deploy-token-server)
      * [Deploy a middleware server](middleware-token-server)

    ## Implement basic authentication [#implement-basic-authentication-5]

    This section shows you how to implement basic authentication by acquiring a token and using it to join a channel.

    ### Use a token to join a channel [#use-a-token-to-join-a-channel-5]

    This section shows you how to integrate token authentication in your app.

    1. Open the [SDK quickstart](../../index) project you created earlier.

    2. In `renderer.js` replace the contents with the following:

    **Sample code for basic authentication**

    ```dart
      const {
          createAgoraRtcEngine,
          VideoMirrorModeType,
          VideoSourceType,
          RenderModeType,
          ChannelProfileType,
          ClientRoleType,
        } = require("agora-electron-sdk");

        let rtcEngine;
        let localVideoContainer;
        let remoteVideoContainer;
        let isJoined = false;

        const EventHandles = {
          // Listen to local user joining channel events
          onJoinChannelSuccess: ({ channelId, localUid }, elapsed) => {
            console.log('Successfully joined the channel：' + channelId);
            isJoined = true;
            // After local users join the channel, set the local video window
            rtcEngine.setupLocalVideo({
              sourceType: VideoSourceType.VideoSourceCameraPrimary,
              view: localVideoContainer,
              mirrorMode: VideoMirrorModeType.VideoMirrorModeDisabled,
              renderMode: RenderModeType.RenderModeFit,
            });
          },

          onLeaveChannel: ({ channelId, localUid }, stats) => {
            console.log('Successfully left the channel:' + channelId);
            isJoined = false;
          },

          // Listen to remote user join event
          onUserJoined: ({ channelId, localUid }, remoteUid, elapsed) => {
            console.log('Remote user ' + remoteUid + ' 已加入');
            // Listen to remote user join event
            rtcEngine.setupRemoteVideoEx(
              {
                sourceType: VideoSourceType.VideoSourceRemote,
                uid: remoteUid,
                view: remoteVideoContainer,
                mirrorMode: VideoMirrorModeType.VideoMirrorModeDisabled,
                renderMode: RenderModeType.RenderModeFit,
              },
              { channelId },
            );
          },

          // Listen for the token expiration event
          onTokenPrivilegeWillExpire: ({ channelId, localUid }, token) => {
            console.log('token ' + token + '即将过期');
            // Obtain a new token from the server
            fetchToken(channelId, localUid, ClientRoleType.ClientRoleBroadcaster)
          },

          // Listen for the token expired event
          onRequestToken: ({ channelId, localUid }) => {
            console.log('token expired');
            token = ''
          }
        };

        // Send a token request to the token server
        function fetchToken(channelName, uid, role) {
          //Token server URL example: http://12.123.1.123:8082/fetch_rtc_token
          const url = '<Your host URL and port>/fetch_rtc_token';
          const body = JSON.stringify({
            uid,
            ChannelName: channelName,
            role
          });
          fetch(url, {
            method: 'POST',
            body,
          })
            .then((res) => res.json())
            .then((res) => {
              console.log('token ' + res.token);
              if (+res.code === 200) {
                if (isJoined) {
                  rtcEngine.renewToken(res.token)
                } else {
                  rtcEngine.joinChannel(res.token, channelName, uid, { clientRoleType: role })
                }
              }
              return res;
            });
        }

        window.onload = () => {
          const os = require("os");
          const path = require("path");

          // Fill in your app ID
          const APPID = "<Your app ID>";
          // Fill in the channel name
          const channel = "Test";

          localVideoContainer = document.getElementById("join-channel-local-video");
          remoteVideoContainer = document.getElementById("join-channel-remote-video");
          const sdkLogPath = path.resolve(os.homedir(), "./test.log");

          // Create an RtcEngine instance
          rtcEngine = createAgoraRtcEngine();

          // Initialize the RtcEngine instance
          rtcEngine.initialize({
            appId: APPID,
            logConfig: { filePath: sdkLogPath }
          });

          // Register event handler
          rtcEngine.registerEventHandler(EventHandles);

          //Set the channel profile to live broadcast
          rtcEngine.setChannelProfile(ChannelProfileType.ChannelProfileLiveBroadcasting);

          // Set the user role, for host use ClientRoleBroadcaster, for audience use ClientRoleAudience
          rtcEngine.setClientRole(ClientRoleType.ClientRoleBroadcaster);

          // Enable the video module
          rtcEngine.enableVideo();

          // Enable camera preview
          rtcEngine.startPreview();

          // Use the token to join a channel
          // You need to specify the user ID yourself and ensure its uniqueness within the channel
          fetchToken(channel, 123456, ClientRoleType.ClientRoleBroadcaster);
        };
    ```

    Replace `<Your app ID>` with your app ID, which must be consistent with the app ID you specified in the server configuration. Update `<Your host URL and port>` with the host URL and port of the local Golang server you have deployed. For example `99.9.9.99:8082`.

    The sample code implements the following logic:

    * Calls `joinChannel` to join a channel using the user ID, the channel name, and a token you obtain from the server. The user ID and channel name you specify must be consistent with the values you used to generate the token.

    * The SDK triggers an `onTokenPrivilegeWillExpire` callback 30 seconds before the token expires. After receiving the callback, you obtain a new token from the server and call `renewToken` to pass the newly generated token to the SDK.

    * If the token expires, the SDK triggers an `onRequestToken` callback. After receiving the callback, obtain a new token from the server and call `joinChannel` with the new token to rejoin the channel.

    Build and run the project on the local device, the app performs the following operations:

    * Obtains a token from your token server.
    * Joins the channel.
    * Automatically renews the token when it is about to expire.

    <CalloutContainer type="info">
      <CalloutDescription>
        The user ID and channel name used to join a channel must be consistent with the values used to generate the token.
      </CalloutDescription>
    </CalloutContainer>

    ## Reference [#reference-5]

    This section contains content that completes the information on this page, or points you to documentation that explains other aspects to this product.

    ### API reference [#api-reference-4]

    * [renewToken](https://api-ref.agora.io/en/voice-sdk/electron/4.x/API/class_irtcengine.html#api_irtcengine_renewtoken)
    * [onTokenPrivilegeWillExpire](https://api-ref.agora.io/en/voice-sdk/electron/4.x/API/class_irtcengineeventhandler.html#callback_irtcengineeventhandler_ontokenprivilegewillexpire)
    * [onRequestToken](https://api-ref.agora.io/en/voice-sdk/electron/4.x/API/class_irtcengineeventhandler.html#callback_irtcengineeventhandler_onrequesttoken)

    
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
      
  
