The [`acl.tokens.agent`](/docs/agent/options#acl_tokens_agent) is a special token that is used for an agent's internal operations. It isn't used directly for any user-initiated operations like the [`acl.tokens.default`](/docs/agent/options#acl_tokens_default), though if the `acl.tokens.agent_token` isn't configured the `acl.tokens.default` will be used. The ACL agent token is used for the following operations by the agent:
The [`acl.tokens.agent`](/docs/agent/options#acl_tokens_agent) is a special token that is used for an agent's internal operations. It isn't used directly for any user-initiated operations like the [`acl.tokens.default`](/docs/agent/options#acl_tokens_default), though if the `acl.tokens.agent` isn't configured the `acl.tokens.default` will be used. The ACL agent token is used for the following operations by the agent:
1. Updating the agent's node entry using the [Catalog API](/api/catalog), including updating its node metadata, tagged addresses, and network coordinates
2. Performing [anti-entropy](/docs/internals/anti-entropy) syncing, in particular reading the node metadata and services registered with the catalog