In plain English
The key idea is that someone other than the account holder and the main provider can reach the account or its data. In this sense, the third party is an external app or service, not either of those two sides.
In context
Here, "Third-party access" names the category of access that external apps or services have to a user’s account or data.
- Situation
- Reviewing app permissions, consent prompts, access scopes, and security warnings
- What it communicates
- names the category of access held by outside apps or services.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not state the amount, duration, or approval status of that access.
Examples
“Her bank remained the main provider, but the budgeting app still had third-party access to her transaction history.”
“The audit listed every service with third-party access to employee calendars.”