OAuth 2.0
An open standard for authorization that allows third-party applications to access user data without sharing passwords.
Also: OAuth 2.0
Definition
OAuth (Open Authorization) 2.0 is an open standard and protocol that enables secure, limited access to user accounts on third-party services without exposing credentials. OAuth 2.0 allows users to grant applications specific permissions (scopes) to access their data on another service — for example, allowing a fitness app to read Google Calendar data. The protocol uses access tokens and refresh tokens instead of passwords, and supports authorization flows for web apps, mobile apps, and server-to-server communication.
Example
“Clicking 'Sign in with Google' uses OAuth 2.0 — Google authenticates you and sends the app a token granting access to your email address, but never your password.”
Synonyms
- authorization framework
- token-based auth
- delegated authorization
Antonyms / Opposites
- basic authentication
- password sharing
Images
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Related Terms
- authentication
- jwt
- openid-connect
- api