Web Development Questions Medium
Authentication and authorization are two important concepts in web development that are often used together but have distinct meanings.
Authentication refers to the process of verifying the identity of a user or entity. It ensures that the user is who they claim to be. In web development, authentication is typically achieved through the use of usernames and passwords. When a user attempts to access a protected resource or perform a certain action, they are required to provide their credentials. These credentials are then compared against the stored credentials in a database or directory to determine if they are valid. If the credentials match, the user is considered authenticated and granted access.
Authorization, on the other hand, is the process of granting or denying access to specific resources or actions based on the authenticated user's privileges or permissions. Once a user is authenticated, authorization determines what they are allowed to do within the system. It involves defining roles, permissions, and access levels for different users or user groups. For example, an administrator may have full access to all features and functionalities of a web application, while a regular user may only have access to certain parts or actions.
In summary, authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user, while authorization determines what actions or resources the authenticated user is allowed to access. Both authentication and authorization are crucial for ensuring the security and proper functioning of web applications.