# CREATE API\_TOKEN
## Syntax
```sql
CREATE API_TOKEN api_token_name WITH (api_token_parameter = value [, ...]);;
```
## Description
You can use an `API_TOKEN` for automated systems to access Deltastream. Use [alter-api\_token](https://docs.deltastream.io/reference/sql-syntax/ddl/alter-api_token "mention") command to refresh an existing `API_TOKEN`.
{% hint style="warning" %}
When you use an `API_TOKEN`, it assumes all roles and privileges of the role\_name parameter.
{% endhint %}
### Arguments
#### api\_token\_name
This specifies the name of the new `API_TOKEN`. This name is used only for managing the API token within the organization.
### Token Parameters
| Parameter Name | Description |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| token.role\_name | Name of the role the token should use.
Required: Yes
Type: String
Valid values: See list of existing roles with list-roles.
|
| token.expires\_in\_days | Number of days until the token expires.
Required: No
Type: Integer
Default: 90
|
## Examples
#### Create a new API\_TOKEN
The following creates an `API_TOKEN` named `my_token`.
```sh
/# CREATE API_TOKEN my_token WITH ( 'token.role_name' = sysadmin );
+------------+------------+------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------+
| Type | Name | Command | Summary | Token |
+============+============+============+==========================================+========================+
| api_token | my_token | CREATE | api_token my_token was successfully | |
+------------+------------+------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------+
```
#### Use an API\_TOKEN with cli
```sh
$ /deltastream-cli -a [my-access-token]
mydb.public/prod#
```
#### Use an API\_TOKEN with cli - env property
```bash
$ DS_TOKEN=[my-access-token]
$ /deltastream-cli
mydb.public/prod#
```