# Customer token lifecycle

After a Kustom customer token has been created by you, the token will live on in Kustom's system. This article explains the lifecycle of a token.

Kustom purchase tokens combine consumer details, payment methods, and a connection to a specific merchant.  Stored securely in Kustom's internal databases, no private information is shared externally.

Tokens offer a streamlined purchase process.  Merchant-provided order details are sent to Kustom to complete the purchase.

**Important Note:** Merchants must inform customers about token creation and usage for order placement.

## How long is it active?

Tokens remain active as long as they are used to create orders.

## How to disable a token?

Merchants can disable tokens by updating their status.  Refer to the update token article for details.