Glossary · Security and access
Credential
Information or a cryptographic object presented to establish identity or access a protected system.
Also called: credentials
Definition
Credentials include passwords, API keys, tokens, certificates, and security keys. They need restricted storage, deliberate sharing, revocation, and rotation appropriate to their value and exposure.
Why it matters
A leaked credential can bypass otherwise healthy application code and give an attacker the same access as its owner.
Common misunderstanding
Hiding a credential in browser code, a screenshot, or an untracked file does not make it safely secret.
Related terms
Related system family: Secure Integrations & Custom Tools
Sources
Last reviewed July 16, 2026