— security, authentication — 1 min read
There are many different ways to authenticate user access to an application. For those that don't know, authenticating an application is just a way to verify user access to certain parts of your application.
The first way is the use of user names and passwords. This method is probably the oldest and most common way to authenticate user access. It usually starts on the client and typically uses a form that takes in text input. These credentials generally are plaintext. There are many issues with using passwords, but one is that people often share passwords with other people putting their accounts at risk of being compromised.
This method allows users to use other services to authenticate who they are. It puts trust in another service, answering the question of who is making the request. A good example of this would be when you're asked if you want to sign in using Google or Facebook when accessing other apps.
Multi-factor auth adds a layer of authentication, trusting that you and only you have access to something physical, sensitive, and secure. Its most commonly used through text messaging. If you've tried to access and you were sent a code to your cell phone before granted access, you are using multi-factor authentication.
What are some other ways to authenticate an application?
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